The Special Prosecutor's Office, which is investigating remaining issues connected to the three main cases (the insurrection, Kim Geon-hee, and Army Sergeant Chae), took the unprecedented step of banning two prominent figures from overseas travel due to their alleged involvement in obscuring investigations related to Kim Geon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The office announced on the 17th that they have implemented travel restrictions on former Prosecutor General Lee Chang-soo and former Deputy Prosecutor Jo Sang-won, signifying the seriousness of the allegations.

These travel bans come amidst broader investigations that include a scandal involving suspected favoritism in highway construction and include recent travel restrictions on former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Won Hee-ryong. This suggests a deeper inquiry into high-profile political and legal instances, potentially implicating multiple individuals in the web of alleged corruption and misconduct surrounding the former President's wife.

In particular, Lee Chang-soo and Jo Sang-won are under scrutiny for their previous decisions, including a contentious ruling last year where they dismissed charges against Kim Geon-hee concerning luxury handbag donations and market manipulation linked to Deutsche Motors. This prompted public outcry about possible 'padlocked' investigations, raising questions on the integrity of legal procedures and the extent of political influence over judicial outcomes.