Special Prosecutor Summons Kim Keon-hee for First Interrogation Post-Detention for Allegations Including Myung Tae-gyun's Nomination Interference

Former First Lady Kim Keon-hee leaving the Seoul Central District Court (Seoul=Yonhap News) Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, is seen leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after completing a suspect interrogation (warrant review) prior to her detention on the 12th. 2025.8.12 [Photo Joint Press Corps] photo@yna.co.kr

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Yoo Han-ju, Lee Mi-ryeong, Lee Ui-jin = The special prosecution team, investigating allegations related to Kim Keon-hee, summoned the detained former first lady on the 14th to clarify the alleged interference in Myung Tae-gyun's nomination.

Kim arrived at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the special prosecution office is located, by transport vehicle around 9:52 AM. As she was transported through the underground parking lot, no separate photo line was set up.

According to correctional authorities, Kim boarded the transport vehicle in handcuffs at around 8:40 AM from the Seoul Southern Correctional Facility.

It is understood that she was wearing personal clothing in accordance with the Execution of Sentences Act, which allows detainees to wear civilian clothes in addition to their prison uniform during investigations.

This is the second time Kim has been investigated by the special prosecution team, following the one on the 6th. This is her first investigation since her arrest warrant was issued late on the afternoon of the 12th due to concerns about evidence destruction.

The special prosecution team is reportedly planning to intensely question Kim about the alleged interference in Myung Tae-gyun's nomination.

The core of the alleged 'nomination interference' is that the former President Yoon Suk-yeol couple exerted influence to ensure that former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun received a nomination in the June 1, 2022, National Assembly by-election, in exchange for receiving opinion poll results free of charge from political broker Myung Tae-gyun on 58 occasions.

A recorded conversation was also released, in which former President Yoon is heard telling Myung on May 9, 2022, the day before the People Power Party's by-election nominations were announced, "I told him to do something for Kim Young-sun, as she worked hard since the preliminary round. But there's a lot of talk. From the party." He continued, "I'll talk to Sang-hyun (People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun) one more time. He's the head of the nomination committee."

Kim is also accused of unfairly soliciting political favors from the Unification Church through Jeon Sung-bae, also known as Geonjin Beopsa, for religious group affairs between April and August 2022, and of being involved as a financier ('jeonju') in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case that occurred between 2009 and 2012.

In addition, allegations remain regarding the Sambu Construction stock manipulation, the Yangpyeong Expressway route change, and preferential development benefits for the Yangpyeong Gongheung District, suggesting the possibility of the special prosecution team summoning Kim multiple additional times.

pual07@yna.co.kr

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