The Anti-Corruption Official Investigating the Wife of the South Korean President Has Died

According to a report by the website of The Hankyoreh on August 9, a senior official in charge of anti-corruption work at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), who was responsible for the investigation into the luxury handbag scandal of the wife of the South Korean president, was found dead. This official had presided over the investigation into the incident of the First Lady of South Korea, Kim Keon-hee, receiving luxury handbags. Regarding the conclusion of this case, he had complained to an acquaintance, "I did something against my conscience and feel very painful."

Around 9:50 a.m. on August 8, a subordinate staff member found the official dead in an apartment in Jongchon-dong, Sejong City, and called the police. It is reported that the staff member went to the apartment when Kim didn't show up for work and couldn't be reached, and found that Kim had died in the room. The police found a brief note left by Kim at Kim's home. The note did not state specific reasons but complained about physical and mental pain.

It is reported that a person who was in frequent contact with Kim said, "On June 27, Kim called me to have a drink and expressed his distress, saying that 'the decision-making level of the NHRCK forced the conclusion of the Kim Keon-hee luxury handbag incident.' He frankly said, 'I don't agree, but I can't object. I'm so tired.'"

The Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office of South Korea said on the 9th that considering the absence of signs of crime and the position of the bereaved family, it has decided not to conduct an autopsy on the body. Accordingly, the police station handling the case will also close the case with the conclusion of "no suspicion". The funeral is expected to be held at 8 a.m. local time on the 10th.