Special Prosecutor Bans Former Minister Won, Ex-Prosecution Chiefs from Leaving Country

The second comprehensive special investigation has imposed travel bans on former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong and former senior prosecution officials, who are subjects of the probe into allegations of preferential treatment related to the Yangpyeong Expressway and the family of Kim Keon-hee. Through these measures, the special prosecutor's office has launched a full-scale investigation to uncover allegations that Kim's family received preferential treatment in changing the endpoint of the Yangpyeong Expressway.

This action stems from allegations that former Minister Won was involved in the process when the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport altered the expressway route in May 2023 to be near land owned by Kim's family. The first special probe into Kim Keon-hee had indicted ministry officials over related allegations but did not reach the stage of investigating former Minister Won. The second special probe plans to summon and question former Minister Won as early as possible.

In parallel, the special prosecutor's office has also included former Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office chief Lee Chang-soo and former prosecutor Cho Sang-won, who are suspected of failing to properly investigate cases including Kim's Dior bag reception and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation, among those subject to travel bans, intensifying the investigation.