Police Uphold Decision Not to Refer First Lady Kim Jung-sook in Reinvestigation of Alleged Use of Special Activity Funds for Clothing

[The Financial News] Police have completed a reinvestigation into allegations that former President Moon Jae-in's wife, Kim Jung-sook, used special activity funds to pay for her clothing, and have decided to maintain their earlier conclusion not to refer the case for indictment.
According to the police and other sources on the 29th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) recently again decided not to refer Kim on charges of causing loss of state funds under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
Earlier, in July last year, police had closed the case without referral, saying there was insufficient circumstantial evidence or proof to establish the allegations. At the time, they conducted a wide-ranging investigation, questioning staff at the dressmaker's shop, officials from the Office of the Senior Presidential Secretary for General Affairs and the Office of the Second Assistant to the President at Cheong Wa Dae (the Blue House), and executing a search and seizure at the Presidential Archives, but stated that they had found no materials that would support criminal charges.
Subsequently, in October last year, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office requested a reinvestigation, saying that "the decision not to refer the case appears appropriate at this point, but an explanation from the person concerned is necessary." Police then conducted an additional investigation for about three months, but reached the same conclusion as before.
Kim Jung-sook was accused by a civic group of purchasing clothing during Moon Jae-in's presidency from 2017 to 2022 and paying part of the cost with Cheong Wa Dae special activity funds. At the time of the controversy, Cheong Wa Dae denied the allegation, stating, "All clothing worn at official events in her capacity as the president's spouse was paid for with personal funds."
425_sama@fnnews.com Reporter Choi Seung-han Reporter