The second special counsel (Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-yeong) brought non-custodial charges against Shim Woo-jung, former Prosecutor General, and Jeon Moo-gon, former head of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, on August 20, alleging involvement in an insurrection and misuse of power.
Shim and others are accused of overseeing the transfer of prosecutors to the Joint Investigation Headquarters under the Martial Law Command, following former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of a state of emergency on December 3, 2024, as directed by then-Justice Minister Park Sung-jae. The special counsel also considered Shim’s alleged order to prepare documents about investigative and judicial authority during the emergency period as an act of rebellion. Shim is also charged with directing the prosecution’s special investigation unit for martial law (Special Unit) to refrain from filing an immediate appeal after a court revoked the arrest of former President Yoon in March of last year.
Previously, the insurrection special counsel (Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk) looked into Shim’s supposed participation in the emergency regime last year but did not bring charges against him. Nevertheless, the second special counsel, who took over the case, sought bench warrants for Shim and Jeon on July 13 following a three-month investigation. The court, however, turned down the request, noting, “There was inadequate proof of concerns regarding evidence tampering.” The special counsel then carried out another search and seizure at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office on August 6, asserting that they were gathering further evidence.
In addition, the second special prosecutor is looking into claims that Shim applied outside influence and directed the suppression of an inquiry regarding potential stock price manipulation linked to Kim’s Deutsch Motors by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in October 2024 (abuse of power).
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