SEOUL – A senior official from South Korea’s Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), who was at the forefront of politically sensitive investigations involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee and former opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, was found dead on August 8.
The official’s body was discovered in his Sejong City apartment around 9:50 a.m., accompanied by a suicide note. The discovery was made by an individual who visited the apartment after the official failed to report to work or respond to calls. Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
The deceased had recently served as the acting director of the ACRC’s anti-corruption bureau, where he was responsible for overseeing critical integrity policies and conducting high-profile investigations. Among the cases he managed was the scrutiny of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung’s use of a helicopter following a knife attack in January.
Notably, the official had been involved in the investigation into allegations against First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who was accused of improperly accepting a Christian Dior handbag valued at 3 million won (S$2,900). In June, the ACRC closed the “luxury handbag scandal” case after determining that there were no violations of the anti-graft act, as the law does not include punitive measures for gifts received by public officials’ spouses.
Despite the case being closed, the official reportedly faced significant pressure. Local media outlet JTBC reported that the official confided in a friend during a recent phone call that senior ACRC officials had pressured him to close the case despite his reservations, saying, “I felt immense psychological pressure.”
On August 6, the official sent a message via Kakao Talk to an acquaintance, expressing his emotional distress: “I am feeling psychologically overwhelmed, I am sorry to have disappointed recently. It’s truly difficult.”
In July, the official had appeared before a parliamentary hearing to address lawmakers’ questions regarding his investigations, further intensifying the scrutiny he faced.