Seoul: Special Counsel Min Joong-ki, leading the investigation into allegations surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee, is himself under scrutiny for allegedly engaging in stock trading using insider information. The stock in question is Neo Semi-Tech, a solar energy company that was delisted after its executives faced charges of embezzlement and accounting fraud. Both Min and Kim had invested in Neo Semi-Tech, raising questions about the legality of their trades.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Min's stock transactions have raised concerns due to their timing and profitability. In April 2008, while serving as a senior judge at the Busan District Court, Min reported ownership of 10,000 shares of Neo Semi-Tech in his public asset disclosure. He later increased his holdings to about 12,000 shares. In 2010, Min sold his shares just before the company was delisted, earning over 150 million won ($105,485) in capital gains, unlike 7,000 individual investors who lost over 400 billion won due to the company's collapse from accounting fraud. This perfect timing has led to suspicions of insider trading.

A special counsel must maintain high standards of professional competence and moral integrity, and Min's alleged ethical lapses could undermine public trust in his investigation. Min has claimed that his decision to sell the shares was based on a recommendation from a securities broker, yet doubts persist. Reports of his personal connections, having attended the same high school and university as Neo Semi-Tech's former CEO, further fuel these suspicions. Although personal ties do not prove insider trading, Min owes the public a thorough and transparent explanation to preserve the credibility of his investigation.

Political reactions have been swift. The People Power Party criticized Min's perceived hypocrisy, noting that his team had previously questioned Kim about her Neo Semi-Tech investment while he profited from the same stock. They plan to file a police complaint against him. The Rebuilding Korea Party has called for Min's resignation, arguing that he has "undermined the very idea of fairness." If Min dismisses the allegations as trivial, the legitimacy of the investigation into the former first lady could be compromised. He must disclose all relevant facts and, if any wrongdoing is confirmed, take full responsibility.