Prosecutors Investigate Presidential Office Insider Coordinating Meeting Schedule Between Mrs. Kim and Choi Jaeyoung

Investigation of Two Presidential Office Staff Completed
Summons for Kim Yeo-sa Expected Soon

The prosecution investigating allegations of luxury handbag acceptance involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, reportedly questioned a presidential office administrator who directly contacted Pastor Choi Jae-young to coordinate schedules.

According to the legal community on the 7th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Seung-ho) summoned presidential office administrator Yoo on the 3rd. The prosecution is said to have questioned Yoo about the specific conversations he had with Pastor Choi and the circumstances under which he arranged a meeting with the First Lady, and secured related materials.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Administrator Yoo, a former employee of Covana Contents, is known as one of the close aides who joined the presidential office immediately after President Yoon's inauguration and has been assisting the First Lady closely. In political circles, he was also nicknamed the "Residence Team."

When Pastor Choi repeatedly requested meetings by sending photos of luxury handbags to the First Lady via KakaoTalk in September 2022, Yoo coordinated the schedule, saying, "The First Lady said she would try to make time." According to Pastor Choi's side, the meeting actually took place around 2:20 p.m. on September 13 at the Covana Contents office in Seocho-dong after coordinating with Yoo.

It is also known that there are conversation records with Secretary Yoo on June 20, 2022, when Pastor Choi delivered luxury perfume and cosmetics worth about 1.8 million won to the First Lady, marking their first meeting.

In May, under the direction of Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, a dedicated team was formed to investigate the First Lady, and summonses were issued to Baek Eun-jong, the representative of Seoul Voice who filed the complaint, and Pastor Choi Jae-young. On the 19th of last month, the prosecution also summoned presidential office administrator Jo, whom Pastor Choi identified as a link in the solicitation, for questioning. This marks the completion of preliminary investigations into presidential office personnel who were testified by Pastor Choi to have been involved in the luxury handbag delivery process.

Based on the materials secured so far and the results of the investigation of related parties, the prosecution plans to review the method and timing of questioning the First Lady and decide on the direction of the case soon. Some expect that if the First Lady is questioned, the investigation will also cover allegations related to stock manipulation of Deutsche Motors.