President Lee Jae Myung has approved a 30-day extension of the ongoing special counsel investigation into former first lady Kim Keon-hee.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a press release on Wednesday that Lee had reviewed and approved special counsel Min Joong-ki's request for the extension. 

Kang said the top office expects the special counsel to continue conducting a fair and objective investigation in accordance with the law and established procedures.

The approval moves Min's deadline to December 28 and is the final legally permitted extension.

Min’s team, which began its investigation on July 2, has already used the initial 90-day period and extended it twice by 30 days each.

The law permits one final extension with presidential approval.