The investigation led by the Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki into allegations surrounding Kim Geon-hee has encountered significant setbacks, with a recent court ruling dismissing charges against a key defendant in the so-called 'Housekeeper Gate' corruption case due to procedural errors. This marks the third such dismissal for cases pursued by the Special Prosecutor's team, raising alarms about their ability to maintain charges in ongoing investigations. The ruling emphasizes that the court found issues with the foundation of the prosecutor's case against the defendant, Kim Ye-sung, suggesting significant weaknesses in the Special Prosecutor's investigative processes and strategies.

In detail, the Seoul Central District Court ruled against multiple charges stemming from allegations of embezzlement linked to Kim Ye-sung, who was accused of misusing funds from his company, IMS Mobility, utilizing his connection with Kim Geon-hee. The court declared some charges not guilty, indicating that actions taken by Kim Ye-sung may have benefitted a shell company, thus complicating the prosecution's narrative. Furthermore, various personal corruption allegations against him were entirely dismissed, as the court felt they bore little relation to the overarching investigation into Kim Geon-hee, suggesting these allegations were too tangential to merit further legal scrutiny under the Special Prosecutor's investigation.

The repeated dismissals pose serious challenges for the Special Prosecutor’s office, which is tasked with probing high-profile corruption cases in South Korea. As the investigation continues, observers are concerned that the legitimacy of the Special Prosecutor's findings could be undermined, particularly since questions over the procedural integrity and the relevance of the charges being pursued have emerged. This situation could potentially hinder the broader efforts to address corruption at high levels of government, as ongoing scrutiny over the prosecution's methods raises the question of whether adequate resources, procedural safeguards, and coherent strategies are being employed to ensure accountability among powerful figures in South Korea.