Special Counsel Indicts Four Former Officials Over Presidential Residence Renovation Funds

A special counsel team indicted former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and three other former officials on Tuesday over alleged irregularities in the 2022 relocation of the presidential residence. The four face abuse of power charges. Prosecutors say the officials diverted 2.09 billion won from the state budget to pay an interior design company for renovation work after the move from Cheong Wa Dae to the Yongsan district.

The company, 21 Gram, is suspected of winning the contract despite lacking qualifications because of ties to the former president's wife.

Background on the Case The special counsel team alleges the company's renovation estimate was nearly three times the initial interior budget, leading the presidential office to pressure the interior ministry to cover the excess through diverted funds.

This marks the first set of indictments by the special counsel team launched in late February to examine allegations not covered by prior investigations. The relocation of the presidential office was one of the former president's campaign pledges. The current administration has since returned the office to Cheong Wa Dae.

Separately, the same special counsel team filed arrest warrants Tuesday for former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo and three other former military officials over their alleged roles in the December 2024 martial law declaration. The four are accused of failing to block troops from being sent to the National Assembly.

A court is expected to hold an arrest warrant hearing later this week.