hankyoreh

First lady Kim Keon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol. (pool photo)

Prosecutors conducted a private 12-hour questioning of Kim Keon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, over the weekend at an offsite location rather than at a prosecutors’ office. This questioning comes approximately four years and three months after she was first reported to prosecutors for her suspected involvement in manipulating Deutsch Motors stock prices. 

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office reported the questioning of Kim to Prosecutor General Lee One-seok only after the fact, citing Lee’s lack of investigative authority over the case, which has sparked controversy over outright bypassing the prosecutor general.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office’s Anti-Corruption Division 2, headed by Choi Jae-hoon, and Criminal Division 1, headed by Kim Seung-ho, announced on Sunday that they had each questioned the first lady regarding both the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case and allegations of accepting graft in the form of a luxury handbag.

According to the Hankyoreh’s own investigation, Kim Keon-hee's questioning took place from 1:30 pm on Saturday until 1:20 am the following day. The stock manipulation inquiry lasted until 6:30 pm, followed by questioning in relation to the luxury bag starting at 8:00 pm.

The investigation occurred at an offsite location described as a “secure government office” by the prosecution rather than the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. An official from the office explained that “while we would have preferred if [Kim] could respond to a public summons, [special arrangements were necessary] as she must receive presidential security according to the Presidential Security Act.” 

The official added, “We couldn’t conduct the questioning at presidential office facilities, as it would be akin to interrogating her in her home. So, we chose a location to which both the prosecution and the first lady had to travel.”

Lee Chang-su, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, reported to the Prosecutor general that the first lady was currently being questioned at around 11:20 pm on Saturday, after questioning regarding the stock manipulation case, over which the prosecutor general had no authority, had concluded and the questioning on regarding the luxury handbag scandal was about halfway through. 

On Sunday, an official from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office told the Hankyoreh, “The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office belatedly informed the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of the investigation as it was nearing its conclusion, and the prosecutor general is deeply troubled about this situation.” The prosecutor general has repeatedly stated publicly that Kim should be summoned to the relevant prosecutors’ office for questioning.
 
Kim was accused in April 2020 of violating the Capital Markets Act in connection with the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case. The investigation into the luxury bag case began in December of last year after the online media outlet Voice of Seoul accused Kim and Yoon of violating Korea’s anti-graft law and accepting bribes. Kim’s lawyer, Choi Ji-woo, sent a text message to reporters stating, “We want to inform you that we responded faithfully to the questioning and have provided statements according to the truth.”

By Jeong Hye-min, staff reporter; Bae Ji-hyun, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]