Seoul: A special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki, investigating alleged corruption involving Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is under scrutiny for perceived selective enforcement. The team did not pursue allegations that the Unification Church extended support to both the People Power Party (PPP) and Democratic Party (DP) lawmakers before the 2022 presidential election.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon Young-ho, a former senior official of the Unification Church's global headquarters, testified in court that the group approached both political sides, stating that between 2017 and 2021, the church's ties were closer to the DP. Yoon mentioned that he approached four minister-level officials in the current administration, with two meeting the church leader Han Hak-ja.

Yoon further revealed in interviews with the special counsel that during the Moon Jae-in administration, he provided substantial funds to two sitting and former lawmakers. Reports suggest that up to 15 DP lawmakers benefited from bulk book purchases linked to publication events. Despite these allegations, the special counsel charged only Han and Yoon for issues related to the PPP, such as delivering 100 million won to Kweon Seong-dong in 2022 and using 144 million won in church funds for split donations to PPP lawmakers.

The selective approach has raised questions about the investigation's impartiality, as no probes were conducted into the alleged DP ties. The team cited that support provided to DP lawmakers fell outside the special counsel's legal scope and would be referred to other bodies. However, this decision has been debated for its reasonableness.

The Kim Keon Hee Special Counsel Act mandates political neutrality to maintain public trust. Criticism has also surfaced regarding the handling of a separate case involving a Yangpyeong County official's suicide during questioning, with investigators facing no accountability.

The DP is advocating for a comprehensive special counsel despite three prior probes. However, special counsel investigations are inherently prone to selective enforcement due to ambiguous "related offenses." To uncover the full truth, ordinary investigative bodies must conduct thorough and impartial inquiries.