Journalist

Won Eun-mi
  • Special Prosecutors Office Marks 75 Days of Investigation with Limited Progress
    Special Prosecutor's Office Marks 75 Days of Investigation with Limited Progress The second comprehensive special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, marked its 75th day of investigation on May 11. As the investigation period, set for a maximum of 150 days, reaches its halfway point, search and seizure operations and witness interrogations continue. However, the team has yet to secure the detention of key suspects or move to the indictment stage. The special prosecutor is focusing on the investigation into the alleged conspiracy to commit murder for rebellion related to the 'Noh Sang-won notebook' in hopes of finding a breakthrough. Since its launch on February 25, the special prosecutor's office announced its first investigation results last week. It cleared Kim Kwan-young, the former governor of North Jeolla Province, and Oh Young-hoon, the governor of Jeju Province, of charges related to the martial law situation on December 3, citing a lack of evidence to support the allegations. The case against Kim was initiated following a complaint from the Justice Innovation Party, but the special prosecutor determined there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims. Similarly, the case against Oh was closed without further judgment, as no new evidence emerged since the previous investigation into the rebellion last year. While these two cases were deemed to have relatively limited issues compared to other major allegations under investigation, it took nearly two months to reach a conclusion. Legal experts note that although forced investigations and data collection are ongoing, there has been little clear progress toward interrogating key suspects or moving toward indictments. Some observers have pointed out that this contrasts with the earlier special investigation teams, which sought to secure the detention of key suspects, including former President Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Geon-hee, from the outset. The comprehensive special prosecutor's office has also been investigating allegations of complicity in rebellion involving the Joint Chiefs of Staff leadership and claims of covering up the investigation into Kim Geon-hee, but has not yet moved to request arrest warrants or indictments against major suspects. During a briefing on the same day, the special prosecutor's office stated that related investigations are ongoing. They are continuing searches at the Gwangju Center of the National Intelligence Resource Management Agency related to former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung's allegations of important duties in rebellion and abuse of power. Additionally, after the Supreme Prosecutors' Office refused to submit materials for a constitutional respect task force, they executed a search warrant to secure relevant documents. In connection with the allegations of covering up the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, the prosecutor's office is also conducting witness interrogations of the prosecutors involved in the investigation at that time. Furthermore, searches have been conducted regarding the allegations of Kim Geon-hee receiving a Dior bag. The special prosecutor's office is also pursuing allegations of complicity in rebellion within the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They reported conducting the first suspect interrogation of a Joint Chiefs of Staff official last week. In relation to the blacklist allegations involving the Military Counterintelligence Command, they executed a verification warrant to check personnel information databases. Recently, the focus has shifted significantly to the investigation related to the 'Noh Sang-won notebook.' Following verification at facilities in Yeonpyeong on May 6 and in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, on May 8, the special prosecutor's office is examining whether these locations could have served as detention sites for key figures listed in the notebook. The special prosecutor's office explained that the verification aims to confirm whether the facilities have the structure and environment suitable for use as detention sites. This is part of their efforts to substantiate the allegations against former Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won regarding conspiracy to commit murder for rebellion. The investigation has also expanded to include charges against former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Noh for organizing a criminal group. In the legal community, opinions are divided on the effectiveness of applying additional charges to already indicted facts related to rebellion. Given the broad scope of the investigation, there are calls for focused efforts in the remaining time. Additionally, the special prosecutor's office is looking into allegations of preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Expressway project, the cover-up of gambling investigations involving the Unification Church, and illegal budget execution related to the relocation of the presidential office. Kim O-jin, former first vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is scheduled to be investigated on May 13, followed by Yoon Jae-soon, former chief secretary to the president, on May 14, and Kim Dae-ki, former head of the presidential office, on May 15, all for abuse of power. However, it is anticipated that investigations involving related parties and data collection will take considerable time, raising concerns about the potential for prolonged investigations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 16:45:08
  • Supreme Court Confirms 3-Year Sentence for Legal Broker Linked to Geonjin Beopsa
    Supreme Court Confirms 3-Year Sentence for Legal Broker Linked to Geonjin Beopsa A legal broker linked to Geonjin Beopsa, Lee Mo, has received a confirmed three-year prison sentence. This marks the first case in which the Supreme Court has finalized a sentence related to the special investigation team (involving insurrection, Kim Geon-hee, and deceased Marines). According to Yonhap News on May 11, the Supreme Court's first division, led by Justice Seo Kyung-hwan, upheld the original ruling that sentenced Lee to three years in prison and imposed a fine of 400 million won for charges of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. In criminal cases, if the grounds for an appeal are deemed improper, the court may reject the appeal without further deliberation. This applies in cases where no appeal brief is submitted, claims of disproportionate sentencing are made despite a sentence of less than ten years, or when a defendant admits to the crime but disputes the facts. Lee was arrested and indicted in August of last year for allegedly accepting 400 million won in exchange for promises to secure a not guilty verdict in court by leveraging connections with influential figures, including the president and prominent politicians from the People Power Party, as well as high-ranking legal professionals. The Kim Geon-hee special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki, viewed Lee as a broker who facilitated connections between individuals seeking to suppress investigations or influence court proceedings and Geonjin Beopsa. In the first trial, all charges against Lee were found guilty, resulting in a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 400 million won. Both the special investigation team and Lee's side appealed the decision, but the second trial increased the sentence to three years while maintaining the fine amount. The second trial court noted, "If the public suspects that judicial procedures are influenced by external improper pressures or transactions, the mere existence of such suspicion can undermine the rule of law and critically damage the fairness of criminal procedures." The court further stated, "The defendant's actions constitute a serious crime that undermines public trust in the independence of the judiciary and the fairness of trials, which are the last bastions of the rule of law. Therefore, a severe punishment is warranted." Despite repeated appeals from Lee's side, the Supreme Court deemed the grounds for the appeal improper and decided to reject it.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 15:01:41
  • Special Prosecutors Investigate Prosecutors Over Allegations of Covering Up Deutsche Motors Case
    Special Prosecutors Investigate Prosecutors Over Allegations of Covering Up Deutsche Motors Case The second special prosecution team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, is investigating prosecutors from the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office over allegations of covering up the stock manipulation case involving Kim Geon-hee and Deutsche Motors. The special prosecutors are focusing on whether there was any interference from the prosecution leadership or the presidential office during the decision not to prosecute Kim. On the morning of May 11, the special prosecutors summoned Choi Jae-hoon, head of the Daejeon District Prosecutor's Office's Major Economic Crimes Investigation Unit, and Kim Min-goo, head of the Financial Investigation Division at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutor's Office, as witnesses. Both are key prosecutors who handled the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation investigation at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office's Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2. Choi Jae-hoon stated upon his arrival at the special prosecutors' office at around 9:40 a.m., "As the sixth lead prosecutor handling this case, I have never received any improper instructions or external pressure during the investigation. I conducted the investigation rigorously based on evidence and legal principles, leading to the final decision." He added, "The investigation has been ongoing for about ten months, from the special prosecution into Kim Geon-hee last year to the current comprehensive special prosecution. Being left as a subject of investigation constitutes a significant violation of human rights, so I urge for a swift conclusion to the investigation." In contrast, Kim Min-goo did not respond to reporters' questions about why the non-prosecution document was prepared in advance as he headed into the interrogation room. The special prosecutors are investigating whether there was undue pressure during the decision not to prosecute Kim Geon-hee regarding the allegations of stock manipulation involving Deutsche Motors. The Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office concluded that Kim Geon-hee had merely entrusted her account to former Deutsche Motors chairman Kwon Oh-soo and was unaware of any market manipulation activities, leading to a non-prosecution decision for violations of the Capital Markets Act. Notably, during a search and seizure operation in March at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office, and Gongju District Prosecutor's Office, the special prosecutors reportedly secured the non-prosecution document believed to have been drafted by Kim Min-goo. They suspect that the conclusion not to prosecute may have been internally decided before Kim Geon-hee was questioned in a closed session at the presidential security office in July of the same year, with the document's revision date pinpointed to May 2024. Additionally, the special prosecutors are investigating whether the presidential office or the prosecution leadership influenced the investigation team based on evidence that Kim Geon-hee inquired about her investigation status via a Telegram message to former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae in May 2024. There are also ongoing inquiries into allegations that Lee Chang-soo, the former head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office, sent a message to the investigation team suggesting they consider a not guilty verdict, to determine whether there was any involvement from the leadership at that time. The investigation team maintains that they made the non-prosecution decision based on sufficient evidence and testimonies, asserting that there was no external pressure. They claim that the disputed non-prosecution document was merely an internal document to review potential arguments and was saved during the handover process in personnel changes.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 12:15:29
  • Record Number of Prosecutors Apply for Judgeships Amid Court Reforms
    Record Number of Prosecutors Apply for Judgeships Amid Court Reforms As the implementation of judicial reform legislation aimed at abolishing the prosecution office approaches in October, there is a notable increase in the departure of prosecutors. Resignations, leaves of absence, and special prosecutor assignments have surged, with the number of experienced judges applying for judgeships reaching an all-time high. According to the legal community on May 10, the number of former prosecutors applying for judgeships in the 2026 judgeship appointment process exceeded last year’s record of 48 applicants. Reports indicate that there are around 280 applicants from within the prosecution, with over 100 passing the initial document screening. The Court Administration Office stated, "We cannot disclose the exact numbers, but they will be made public after the hiring process concludes in October this year." The trend of increasing applications from former prosecutors has been evident in recent years. The number rose from 7 in 2018 to 12 in 2019, 22 in 2020, 26 in 2021, and 36 in 2022. Although it dipped to 28 in 2023 and 25 in 2024, it surged to 48 last year, and this year is expected to surpass that record. Legal experts attribute this increase to growing organizational instability as the abolition of the prosecution office and the establishment of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Prosecution Agency approach in about five months. Ongoing national investigations into prosecution practices and proposed special prosecutor laws have contributed to a decline in morale within the organization. The exodus of prosecutors is manifesting in various ways. According to the Ministry of Justice, 69 prosecutors have resigned so far this year. Over the past year and four months, a total of 244 prosecutors have left the prosecution. Additionally, 57 prosecutors took leaves of absence in the first quarter of this year, already reaching half of last year's total of 132 leave-takers. The number of prosecutors dispatched to special prosecutor teams has also increased. Since the beginning of the Lee Jae-myung administration, 67 prosecutors have been assigned to special prosecutor teams. If the proposed special prosecutor for fabricated charges by the Democratic Party is realized, an additional 30 prosecutors may be dispatched. With the simultaneous rise in resignations, leaves, and dispatches, concerns about staffing shortages in frontline prosecution offices are growing. Reports indicate that some district prosecution offices have seen their staff reduced to half of their capacity. There are fears that if the trend of experienced judges applying for positions continues, it will inevitably disrupt prosecution operations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 03:35:42
  • Prosecutor Park Sang-yong Faces Disciplinary Review Over Salmon Party Allegations
    Prosecutor Park Sang-yong Faces Disciplinary Review Over Salmon Party Allegations Prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who is under scrutiny for alleged coercion of testimony related to a "salmon party" during the investigation into the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, is expected to face disciplinary action soon. According to legal sources on May 10, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office plans to hold a disciplinary committee meeting as early as May 11 to discuss Park's case. The committee can summon the subject of the investigation if deemed necessary, but Park stated he has not received any notification. He has expressed a desire for an opportunity to explain himself and plans to wait at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office starting the morning of May 11 for the committee's proceedings. The disciplinary committee consists of 5 to 9 members, including both external figures from the legal, academic, media, and business sectors, as well as internal members. While the Attorney General is not obligated to follow the committee's recommendations, they have generally adhered to its decisions in the past. Even if the committee decides on the disciplinary action and its severity, there are still procedural steps before a final decision is made. If the Attorney General determines that disciplinary action is warranted, they must submit a request to the Ministry of Justice at least 17 days before the statute of limitations expires. Subsequently, the Minister of Justice, who chairs the prosecutor disciplinary committee, will decide on one of five levels of discipline: reprimand, suspension, demotion, dismissal, or termination. According to the Prosecutor Disciplinary Act, all disciplinary actions except for reprimands are executed by the President, who holds the appointment authority, upon the Minister of Justice's recommendation. If a judge or prosecutor is dismissed as a result of disciplinary action, they are barred from practicing law for three years. During the review process by the prosecution and the Ministry of Justice, the level of discipline may change. In a related case, former prosecutor Kim Sang-min, who held a book launch event while still in office and expressed intentions to run for the National Assembly, faced a suspension request from former Attorney General Lee Won-seok in January 2024. The Ministry of Justice recommended a dismissal, which is two levels higher than suspension, but the disciplinary committee ultimately decided on a three-month suspension. The Minister of Justice can also initiate disciplinary requests, leading to situations where the Supreme Prosecutors' Office may deem disciplinary action unnecessary, yet the Ministry of Justice re-evaluates the case. While Park denies the allegations of testimony coercion, criticism from the ruling party has intensified, suggesting that the investigation was manipulated. Controversy is expected to continue even after the disciplinary decision is made.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 03:25:41
  • Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Geon-hees Supreme Court Appeal Advances
    Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Geon-hee's Supreme Court Appeal Advances The Supreme Court is set to hear the appeal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Geon-hee, after their sentences were increased in the appeals court. According to legal sources on May 10, the Supreme Court is expected to begin proceedings for the couple's appeal case soon. On May 6, the Supreme Court received the records of Yoon's case regarding allegations of obstructing the Corruption Investigation Office's arrest. The formal assignment of the case to a designated panel and presiding justice has not yet occurred. The case involves five allegations against Yoon, including violations of the right to deliberate and vote on martial law by cabinet members, the post-facto creation and destruction of martial law declarations, issuing false public announcements after declaring martial law, instructing the deletion of classified phone records, and obstructing the execution of arrest warrants. This is the first criminal appeal trial for Yoon related to the martial law situation, and it is the 'first case' handled by the dedicated insurrection trial division established at the Seoul High Court. Yoon was previously indicted on charges of obstructing special public duties and abusing his authority, and on January 16, he was sentenced to five years in prison in the first trial, prompting an appeal. On April 29, the appeals court increased his sentence to seven years, adding two years to the original term. The appeals court reversed the first trial's not guilty verdict on charges of false advertising against foreign media (abuse of authority) and violations of the deliberation rights of the ministers of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Trade, Industry and Energy, as well as allegations of instructing the overseas publicity secretary to issue false information. Kim Geon-hee, who has been indicted on charges related to stock manipulation and receiving money from the Unification Church, is also preparing for her appeal. Initially, the first trial found her not guilty of violating capital market laws and political funding laws related to a 'free opinion poll' involving Nam Tae-kyun, while partially convicting her of soliciting bribes under the specific crimes aggravated law related to the Unification Church, resulting in a sentence of one year and eight months. On April 28, the appeals court more than doubled her sentence to four years. The appeals court determined that Kim was a 'co-offender' in the stock manipulation case and interpreted the timing of the stock manipulation offenses in relation to the statute of limitations differently than the first trial. While the first trial did not find her complicit with the stock manipulation group, the appeals court concluded that she had participated knowingly and as a co-conspirator. Additionally, the appeals court divided the trading periods into three phases: the first (October 2010 to January 2011), the second (March 30, 2011), and the third (July to August 2012). Unlike the first trial, which ruled that the first and second phases were barred by the statute of limitations, the appeals court viewed these as a single crime (continuing offense) and deemed them punishable. The appeal trial will focus on legal interpretations where the first and second trials diverged, as it is a legal review rather than a factual one. Key issues in Kim's case will include the conspiracy in stock manipulation, the recognition of continuing offenses, and the application of the statute of limitations. In Yoon's case, attention will be on the establishment of abuse of authority and the interpretation of martial law-related authority. There is also interest in whether the Supreme Court will meet the three-month ruling deadline stipulated in the special investigation law. According to the law, the deadline for Kim's case is July 28, and for Yoon's case, it is July 29. However, since these are not mandatory provisions, there may be a focus on careful deliberation over speed.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-11 03:01:50
  • Constitutional Court Researcher Resigns Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations
    Constitutional Court Researcher Resigns Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations A senior researcher at the Constitutional Court has reportedly resigned following disciplinary action for allegedly stalking a female colleague. Another senior researcher, who faced sexual misconduct allegations years ago, remains in position but has been temporarily reassigned from his duties. According to Yonhap News on May 10, the Constitutional Court accepted the resignation of senior researcher A, who had received a reprimand due to the stalking allegations. A is accused of persistently contacting a female researcher and requesting to meet her. Previously, the court's disciplinary committee decided to issue a reprimand to A for violating the duty to maintain dignity, and he was stripped of his senior position. Reports indicate that A submitted his resignation in response to this decision. Additionally, about three years ago, senior researcher B was implicated in allegations of inappropriate physical contact with female colleagues during an internal workshop while intoxicated. The court stated that it received complaints at the time but concluded the matter without initiating a formal investigation, respecting the victims' wishes. While the court did not take personnel action against B, internal dissatisfaction has led to recent guidance advising researchers not to report to him for the time being. Critics in the legal community have questioned the court's response, suggesting it was inadequate given the circumstances. Despite previous complaints from victims, there are claims that senior staff members overlooked the issues and did not respond sufficiently. Both senior researchers are currently under investigation by police following a report filed by the Freedom Korea Defense Corps at the end of last month, accusing them of violations of the Stalking Punishment Act and sexual assault.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-10 13:40:52
  • Trump Signals Potential Iran Peace Deal Before China Visit
    Trump Signals Potential Iran Peace Deal Before China Visit Trump hints at Iran peace deal ahead of China visit, warns of military pressure Donald Trump, the U.S. President, indicated a possible resolution to peace talks with Iran before his visit to China. Reports suggest that the U.S. and Iran are nearing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end hostilities, with Trump warning of increased military pressure if an agreement fails. On May 6, during a White House event, Trump told reporters, "Iran cannot and will not have nuclear weapons," adding that they have agreed on several issues. He noted, "We had very good discussions with Iran over the last 24 hours," expressing optimism about reaching an agreement. According to CNN and Axios, the MOU under discussion includes a temporary halt to Iran's nuclear enrichment, the lifting of U.S. sanctions, and a gradual easing of maritime restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. President Lee's approval rating at 67%; Democratic Party leads President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating has dropped by 2 percentage points to 67%, according to a nationwide survey released on May 7. The poll conducted by Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research from May 4 to 6 showed that more than half of respondents across all age groups, except those under 20, rated his performance positively. Among those under 20, 37% approved while 27% disapproved, with 36% unsure or not responding. Among ideological groups, approval was high at 92% among progressives and 69% among moderates, while 48% of conservatives disapproved. Korean stock market jumps to 7th largest globally, surpassing Canada The Korean stock market has reached a historic milestone, becoming the seventh largest in the world. As of May 7, Bloomberg reported that the market capitalization stood at approximately $4.59 trillion, surpassing Canada's $4.5 trillion. Korea now ranks behind the U.S. ($77.08 trillion), China ($15.27 trillion), Japan ($8.33 trillion), Hong Kong ($7.47 trillion), India ($5.1 trillion), and Taiwan ($4.67 trillion). Government faces uncertainty over oil reserve release amid rising costs As the government approaches the end of its oil reserve release policy aimed at stabilizing prices, uncertainty remains regarding future actions. With international oil prices rising, concerns about the sustainability of the policy are growing, especially as the refining industry faces increased financial burdens. The government has relied on short-term measures like price caps and reserve releases, but the lack of a clear exit strategy is contributing to market uncertainty. Industry estimates suggest that the combined operating profit of the four major refiners (SK Innovation, S-Oil, GS Caltex, and HD Hyundai Oilbank) could approach 5 trillion won for the first quarter, a significant improvement from the previous year, largely due to soaring oil prices from the Middle East conflict. Korea and Japan elevate security talks to deputy minister level High-ranking officials from South Korea and Japan met on May 7 in Seoul to discuss security cooperation. Deputy Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and Deputy Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee, along with Japan's Deputy Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi and Defense Policy Director Koji Kano, held the 14th Korea-Japan Security Policy Council meeting, which has been upgraded from director-level discussions. The Foreign Ministry stated that both sides evaluated the recent trust and ties between the leaders of Korea and Japan, emphasizing the importance of continuing exchanges and cooperation at all levels. NIS reports reduced hostility in North Korea's new constitution On May 7, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) assessed that North Korea's constitutional amendments clarify the existence of two states but have significantly reduced hostility towards South Korea. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sun-won, after a National Assembly intelligence committee meeting, reported that the NIS noted the new constitution includes a territorial clause defining areas adjacent to South Korea but does not label South Korea as an enemy or a target for military action. Iranian media claims physical action against South Korean vessel, government denies Iranian state media reported that Iran took 'physical action' against a South Korean vessel. According to Yonhap News, Press TV stated on May 6 that Iran had targeted a South Korean ship for violating newly defined maritime rules, signaling its intent to defend sovereignty. While the specific vessel was not named, it is believed to refer to the HMM Namoo. The column also claimed that the U.S. halted 'Project Freedom' not out of goodwill but due to Iran's asymmetric military deterrence and calculated responses.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-08 00:02:00
  • Special Prosecutor Clears Kim Kwan-young of Insurrection Charges
    Special Prosecutor Clears Kim Kwan-young of Insurrection Charges Independent candidate Kim Kwan-young received a no-charge notice from the second special prosecutor team led by Kwon Chang-young regarding insurrection charges on May 7. Kim received the notice around 6 p.m. and stated, "We received the no-charge notice via fax at the provincial office," confirming that there were no allegations of insurrection or dereliction of duty. The allegations stemmed from actions taken by the Jeonbuk provincial government during former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration on December 3, 2024, which included closing the provincial office and cooperating with the regional martial law command. Lee Won-taek, the Democratic Party's candidate for Jeonbuk governor, had raised concerns about possible insurrection. In a press conference on May 4, Kim had stated, "If the special prosecutor indicts me, I will retire from politics," emphasizing that politicians must be accountable for their statements. He also called for Lee to take political responsibility, as Lee had promised to clarify the facts surrounding the allegations. However, some in the political sphere questioned whether the investigation was warranted based solely on the allegations. Critics argued that the provincial government's actions during the martial law should have undergone thorough legal review before a formal investigation was initiated. With the special prosecutor's no-charge decision, Kim is expected to continue his campaign for the Jeonbuk governorship.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 23:59:52
  • Prosecutors Reject Arrest Warrant for HYBEs Bang Si-hyuk, Citing Incomplete Investigation
    Prosecutors Reject Arrest Warrant for HYBE's Bang Si-hyuk, Citing Incomplete Investigation Prosecutors have once again returned an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE, to the police, citing incomplete supplementary investigations regarding allegations of deceiving investors before the company's IPO. According to Yonhap News, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office rejected the police's renewed request for the warrant on May 6. Prosecutors stated, "We found that the requested supplementary investigations were not completed, leading to the warrant's dismissal." In response, the police have stated they have no further comment on the prosecutors' decision. Just six days after the initial warrant was rejected, the police refiled the request on April 30, alleging fraudulent trading under the Capital Markets Act. When the warrant was initially returned, prosecutors indicated that there was insufficient justification for the arrest at that stage, prompting the request for further investigation. After receiving the warrant back, the police conducted supplementary investigations regarding Bang's potential flight risk, evidence tampering, and recidivism, concluding that an arrest was still necessary. Bang is accused of misleading HYBE investors in 2019 by claiming there were no plans for an IPO while selling shares to a private equity fund, which later profited from the IPO. Police estimate that Bang gained approximately 260 billion won ($190 million) in illicit profits from this scheme. The Capital Markets Act prohibits obtaining financial benefits through false statements or fraudulent schemes, with penalties of life imprisonment or a minimum of five years in prison for profits exceeding 5 billion won. The police began investigating Bang in late 2024 after receiving tips, transitioning to a public investigation in mid-2025 following searches of the Korea Exchange and HYBE. In early August 2025, the police imposed a travel ban on Bang upon his return from the U.S. and summoned him for questioning five times between September and November of that year. They also froze his HYBE shares valued at approximately 156.8 billion won. Meanwhile, while the total number of cases referred last year decreased compared to 2024, the number of requests for supplementary investigations has risen, raising concerns about escalating tensions between police and prosecutors. Since the introduction of the supplementary investigation request authority in 2021, there has been an increase in back-and-forth demands for further inquiries, highlighting ongoing friction between the two agencies.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-07 23:58:19