A senior official in charge of anti-corruption work at the Korean Council of national rights was found dead in his home Wednesday, The Hankyoreh reported. A note believed to be a suicide note was found at the scene. The official, who co-ordinated the investigation into the case of the President’s wife, Kim Kin-hee, who received the designer bags, had previously confided that he had a guilty conscience about the closure of the case, which he believed should be referred to prosecutors.
Yonhap, “Chosun Ilbo” and other media also reported the news, but did not disclose the specific name of the deceased. The The Hankyoreh said that on the morning of the 8th, the anti-corruption official’s subordinates found that the former had not arrived at his post and could not get in touch with him, so they went to his home to check on the situation and found him dead there. Reported that the police found at the scene is believed to be a suicide note note, but refused to disclose the specific contents of the note.
Kim Kyung-hee, wife of South Korean president Yoon seok-woo, file photo
The report said the deceased had previously confided to friends that Kim, who was in charge of coordinating the investigation, had been asked to close the case over his acceptance of designer bags, which left him with“A guilty conscience and feeling very painful”. He thought the case should be referred to the prosecution. A friend of the deceased told the The Hankyoreh, “The director [ the deceased ] texted on August 6 saying, ‘we’re really sorry that we’ve let everyone down recently. Feel guilty about it’ . I told him, ‘hang in there, there will come a time when you can do your job. ‘”
In addition, the The Hankyoreh said the source also revealed that, “On June 27, the director of the Bureau, who had been drinking, called me and said, ‘the high-level officials of the national rights commission have asked for the case to be closed over Kim Jianxi’s acceptance of designer handbags. ‘ ‘I don’t think so, but I can’t object. It’s really painful. ‘”
According to previous reports in South Korean media, Kim Jianxi received branded perfumes and cosmetics from us-based pastor Cui Zaiyong in June 2022, in September of the same year, it received the equivalent of 3 million won (16,000 yuan) in designer bags. On December 19, the 2023 group “Participation and association” filed a complaint with the National Rights Commission against Yin Xiyue, Jin Jianxi and Cui Zaiyong. June 10 this year, for South Korean president Yoon Seok-hye’s wife Kim Kyung-hee received a famous brand bag case, the national rights commission announced the results of the investigation, Kim Kyung-hee“No illegal acts,” and declared the case closed.
In response to the The Hankyoreh’s death, Lee so-young, a parliamentary spokesman for the Democratic Party of Korea, said: “As we mourn the death of our public servant, the Democratic Party will take the lead in finding out the truth.”. He also shouted, “Those responsible for the death of the deceased should immediately confess their actions and apologize.”