SEOUL – Prosecutor General Lee One-seok issued an apology on Monday regarding the unconventional handling of an interrogation involving First Lady Kim Keon Hee, acknowledging the breach of standard investigative protocols.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the first lady was questioned at a government office not typically used for such purposes, which deviated from established legal norms. This questioning was part of an investigation into allegations related to a luxury handbag scandal and possible stock price manipulation by Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea. The session, which took place away from the usual prosecutor's office settings, was only made known to Lee about ten hours after it commenced, a delay that has stirred speculation and discontent about the potential for his resignation.
"I have said that there are no exceptions, preferential treatment or sanctuary under our law, but these principles were not observed in the questioning of the president's wife," Lee stated to the press. He expressed deep regret over the situation, emphasizing his commitment to uphold the law impartially. Lee reassured the public of his dedication to ensuring equality before the law in all subsequent legal proceedings involving the first lady.
Further complicating the matter, Lee Chang Soo, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, later met with Lee One-seok to explain why there was a delay in notifying the Prosecutor General about the questioning. The chief prosecutor criticized the choice of location for the interrogation, which was under the control of the Presidential Security Service, and has directed the inspection department of his office to thoroughly investigate the incident.
Lee One-seok, who began his tenure as prosecutor general in September 2022 and is approaching the end of his two-year term, hinted at possible significant decisions regarding his position depending on the outcomes of this internal review.