Head of the Corruption Investigation Office says on summoning Mrs. Kim, "Can do if necessary... Expansion of investigative authority needed"

Luxury Bag Allegation Report Case "Proceeding According to Procedure"
"Investigation Authority on the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act Should Be Expanded"

Oh Dong-woon, head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit, said on the 14th that when asked about the possibility of summoning Kim Geon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, over allegations of receiving luxury bags, "I think it can be done if there is a necessity."

Odongwoon, the head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, is speaking on the morning of the 14th at the National Assembly while meeting with Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the People Power Party.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, during the plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, when Park Gyun-taek, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked, "During the confirmation hearing, you said you were prepared to summon the president if necessary, but isn't summoning the president's wife a less difficult matter?" Oh responded accordingly. He added, "Generally speaking, if there is a lead in the investigation or a need to summon, I think it can be done."

However, regarding the progress of the investigation, he said, "It is inappropriate to report specifically which stage the investigation has reached," and added, "No separate disposition has been made publicly, but it will proceed according to the procedures."

When asked if he intends to investigate the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, which recently closed the case involving Mrs. Kim, Oh replied, "Violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act is not included in the high-ranking officials' crimes that the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit can investigate," and said, "If such matters are included, we would actively investigate those cases as well."

He continued, "The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act is the starting point of high-ranking public officials' crimes and the starting point of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit's investigations," and added, "I hope legislation will be improved so that investigative authority can extend to such matters."