Special Prosecutor Appoints Two New Assistant Special Prosecutors as DEUTSCH MOTORS INC. Investigation Team Leader Returns to Original Post

[Financial News] The Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Team, led by Min Joong-ki, has returned the head of the DEUTSCH MOTORS INC. stock manipulation investigation team to his original post following allegations of personal misconduct. In addition, two attorneys with judicial backgrounds have been appointed as new assistant special prosecutors.
On the 26th, the Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Team announced that Han, the chief prosecutor of Investigation Team 1 who was on secondment, would be relieved of his duties as of the 27th. The team stated, “It has been confirmed that there are facts making it difficult for him to continue the investigation.”
Chief Prosecutor Han had previously led the investigation into the DEUTSCH MOTORS INC. stock manipulation case. Recently, whistleblower reports alleged that, in July 2021 while at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, he attended a drinking gathering with five individuals, including Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Invest, who managed Kim Keon Hee’s account and was involved in the case. A photo of the gathering was reportedly provided.
The Special Prosecutor Team also announced that Kim, the deputy chief prosecutor who had been in charge of the investigation related to 'Geonjin Buddhist Monk' Jeon Seong-bae, would return to the prosecution as of the 23rd due to personnel changes. To replace them, Kim Il-kwon, Human Rights Officer at the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office (chief prosecutor), and one prosecutor will be newly seconded to the team.
Additionally, the Special Prosecutor Team stated, “Two attorneys, Park No-su (31st class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute) and Kim Kyung-ho (22nd class), have been appointed as assistant special prosecutors.” The team had selected four candidates and requested their appointment from the Presidential Office on the 21st, as the amended Special Prosecutor Act allowed for two additional assistant special prosecutors.
Both Park and Kim are former judges. Park began his judicial career at the Seoul Central District Court in 2002, later serving as head of the Namwon Branch of Jeonju District Court in 2017 and as Senior Judicial Policy Officer at the National Court Administration in 2019. In 2021, he was the presiding judge of the appellate division for sexual crimes and child abuse at the Seoul Central District Court. Since March 2023, he has been a member attorney at Dongin Law LLC.
Kim was appointed as a judge at the Seoul Central District Court in 1996, later serving as presiding judge at Changwon District Court in 2008, Suwon District Court in 2009, and Seoul Family Court in 2013. In 2014, he became a partner attorney at Shin & Kim LLC. He is currently the managing attorney at Hyeum Law Firm.
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter