The 'insurgency special investigation', 'Kim Keon-hee special investigation', and 'Marine Corps member death incident special investigation' are launching full-scale investigations. This is the first time since the introduction of the special investigation system in 1999 that three major special investigations are being conducted simultaneously. Moreover, the personnel and duration of this special investigation are the largest and longest in history. On the 21st, legal circles expressed, 'There have been 15 past special investigations, but successful cases are rare,' and 'I wonder how much these three major special investigations will yield.'

(From left) Joe Eunsuk, Special Investigation for Rebellion, Min Joong-ki, Special Investigation for Kim Keon-hee, Lee Myung-hyun, Special Investigation for Marine Corps Death Incident. /Courtesy of News1

◇ Up to 577 members and longest 170 days… ruling party-led special investigation raises questions about 'neutrality'

Among the three major special investigations, the insurgency special investigation is moving the fastest. The insurgency special investigation began its investigation on the night of the 18th and additionally indicted former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun. On the 20th, six special investigation deputy prosecutors were also appointed.

Other special investigations are also preparing for full-scale investigations. The Kim Keon-hee special investigation and the Marine Corps member death incident special investigation have each appointed four special investigation deputy prosecutors.

A total of 577 personnel will be deployed for this special investigation. The number of dispatched prosecutors alone is 120. The insurgency special investigation is the largest, with a total of 267 personnel, including 60 dispatched prosecutors. This surpasses the previous largest size of the 2016 'Choi Soon-sil special investigation (20 dispatched prosecutors and a total of 105).' The Kim Keon-hee special investigation will involve up to 205 personnel, including 40 dispatched prosecutors, while the Marine Corps member death incident special investigation will involve up to 105 personnel, including 20 dispatched prosecutors.

The investigation period is also the longest. The insurgency and Kim Keon-hee special investigations can each investigate for up to 170 days, while the Marine Corps member death incident special investigation can investigate for a maximum of 140 days. The previous Choi Soon-sil special investigation was allotted a total investigation period of 120 days. Significant expenses are also expected to be incurred. The National Assembly Budget Policy Office predicts that the operation of the three major special investigations will require a budget of 40 billion won.

Meanwhile, some raise questions about the political neutrality of the three major special investigations. Special investigations are typically composed of cases involving current presidents, high-ranking officials, and investigative agencies that ordinary prosecutors find difficult to investigate. It is common for the opposition to utilize them to check 'living power.' However, this time, the three major special investigations are being led by the Lee Jae-myung administration and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.

In response, People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo noted before the National Assembly vote on the three major special investigation laws on the 5th, 'There has never been a special investigation instigated by the ruling party among the past special investigations,' adding, 'Special investigations were created to ensure that power holders are investigated properly. A special investigation chosen by the ruling party will inevitably be vulnerable to human rights protection and legal procedures.'

◇ 16th in history... mixed results from past special investigations

This special investigation is the 16th in history. Not all past special investigations have yielded results. The 'Lee Yong-ho Gate special investigation' in 2001, the 'North Korea remittance special investigation' in 2003, and the 'Druking special investigation' in 2018 are evaluated as successful special investigations.

The Druking special investigation is noted as a representative successful special investigation. It investigated the 'Druking comment manipulation conspiracy' involving Kim Kyeong-soo, then-Governor of South Gyeongsang Province and a close aide of former President Moon Jae-in, and led to a confirmed sentence of two years in prison for Kim.

The Lee Yong-ho Gate special investigation, which investigated allegations of lobbying in political and government circles involving former G&G Group Chairman Lee Yong-ho, brought to court individuals who held power at the time, including a nephew of former President Kim Dae-jung, the brother of then-Prosecutor General Shin Sung-nam, and former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Bong-ho. Shin Sung-nam resigned following this incident. Additionally, as a result of this incident, the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office's Special Inspector General Branch was established.

The North Korea remittance special investigation uncovered that the Hyundai Group illegally remitted a total of $500 million to North Korea during the agreement process of the inter-Korean summit in April 2000. Based on the investigation results, the special investigation indicted former Minister of Culture Park Ji-won (currently a member of the Democratic Party), the late Chairman of Hyundai Group Jeong Mong-hun, and former National Intelligence Service Director Lim Dong-won. Former Minister Park received a confirmed sentence of three years.

On the other hand, the 'Roh Moo-hyun associates corruption special investigation' that investigated allegations of bribery involving former Blue House Secretary-General Choi Doo-soo, the 'BBK special investigation' that looked into stock price manipulation allegations during former President Lee Myung-bak's candidacy, the 'Samsung slush fund special investigation' that investigated lobbying allegations involving Samsung Group and the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee, and the 'sponsor prosecutor special investigation' that investigated allegations of a construction business owner sponsoring prosecutors in Busan in 2010, are cited as failed special investigations. Most of the allegations they investigated concluded with 'baseless' or 'no charges.'