Kim Tae-hoon, Head of the Joint Investigation Headquarters for Religious-Political Collusion, Begins First Day: "Investigations Will Proceed Without Hesitation, Regardless of Rank or Status"

[Financial News] Kim Tae-hoon, chief prosecutor (30th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute) and head of the Joint Investigation Headquarters for Religious-Political Collusion involving the Unification Church and Shincheonji, pledged an "investigation without sanctuary" as he began his first day.
At 8:48 a.m. on the 8th, Chief Prosecutor Kim entered the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, wearing a gray coat and a navy tie.
When asked by reporters about his thoughts on his first day, Kim stated, "Since the prosecution and police have formed a joint team, we will work closely together to deliver the results the public expects. Regardless of rank or status, we will pursue the facts as indicated by the evidence, without hesitation or bias."
The headquarters was established on the 6th. Kim Tae-hoon, chief prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, serves as the head, with Im Sam-bin, public investigation planning officer at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (deputy chief prosecutor), and Ham Young-wook, chief of investigations at the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency (senior superintendent), as deputy heads. The investigation team consists of 47 members: 25 from the prosecution, including Chief Prosecutor Kim, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Im, two division chiefs, six prosecutors, and 15 investigators. The police have dispatched 22 officers, including Senior Superintendent Ham, Ji-hwan Lim, chief of Yongin Seobu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province (superintendent), and Chang-hwan Park, head of the Major Crimes Investigation Division at the National Police Agency (superintendent).
The Joint Investigation Headquarters is investigating allegations that religious organizations, including the Unification Church and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), provided money and valuables to political figures and intervened in elections, in what is known as the 'religious-political collusion' case.
The establishment of the headquarters follows President Lee Jae Myung's directive on the 30th of last month, in which he called for a special investigation team or a joint investigation headquarters to look into the religious-political collusion allegations and instructed the prosecution and police to investigate.
At the time, President Lee stated, "Regardless of whether they are from the ruling or opposition party, or their rank or position, everyone must be investigated to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable, so that such incidents do not recur. We cannot wait for a special prosecutor, so consider forming a special investigation team or a joint investigation headquarters with the prosecution and police, or handle it separately."
Meanwhile, Chief Prosecutor Kim is regarded as a representative planner and strategist, having followed an elite career path within the prosecution.
Kim began his career as a prosecutor at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office and, as a junior prosecutor, worked at the Criminal Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice. During the Moon Jae-in administration, he served as the head of the Prosecution Division at the Ministry of Justice under Minister Park Beom-kye, where he led the reorganization that reduced the scope of direct investigations by the prosecution.
He later moved to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office as the fourth deputy chief, overseeing anti-corruption investigations and leading the dedicated team for the Daejang-dong development scandal. During the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, he was transferred to a less prominent position as a high prosecutor, but was promoted to chief prosecutor under the current government. Recently, during the announcement of a joint statement by chief prosecutors regarding prosecution reform, he was one of only two not to sign, along with Eun-jung Lim, head of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, and is considered to have a pro-government stance.
kyu0705@fnnews.com Kim Dong-gyu Reporter