The prosecution investigating allegations of stock manipulation involving Deutsche Motors and suspicions of receiving luxury bags linked to First Lady Kim Geon-hee is continuing to deliberate over summoning her. The prosecution has already completed investigations of surrounding individuals, including Pastor Choi Jae-young, who handed over the luxury bag, the accuser, and administrative officers from the Presidential Office. From both inside and outside the prosecution, it is viewed as inevitable to conduct a direct investigation of the First Lady in order to conclude the investigation in some manner. As President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim returned from their visit to the United States on the 12th, the investigation team is expected to attempt further coordination with Kim’s side regarding the method of investigation.
The prosecution has consistently maintained that there is "no set plan" regarding the method and timing of the First Lady’s investigation. However, it was recently revealed that there had been communication between the prosecution and Kim’s side after her representatives publicly stated their position to the media. On the 8th, Kim’s legal representative, Attorney Choi Ji-woo, said, "We informed the prosecution that summoning for acts that do not have penal provisions may be legally inappropriate." This was the first time Kim’s side publicly addressed the suspicions related to receiving the Dior bag.
The argument was based on the fact that the current Improper Solicitation and Graft Act does not include sanctions against spouses of public officials, which is the same logic the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission used when recently closing the investigation related to the First Lady. However, Attorney Choi added, "There has been no ‘consultation’ with the prosecution regarding the specifics of whether or how the investigation will proceed."
Furthermore, on the 11th, Attorney Choi again distributed materials to the media, stating that the "waiting person holding a duty-free shopping bag" witnessed by Pastor Choi in front of the Covana Contents office was not a complainant but Administrative Officer Jo from the Presidential Office, and that the bag was not a shopping bag but a duty-free eco bag. Kim’s side submitted the eco bag shown in the video to the prosecution.
Meanwhile, the appellate trial sentencing hearing for Kwon Oh-soo, former chairman of Deutsche Motors, who was indicted in the ‘Deutsche Motors stock manipulation’ case linked to the First Lady, is scheduled for September 12. Additionally, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, who emphasized that "there are no exceptions, privileges, or sacred zones before the law" regarding the issue of summoning the First Lady, is set to complete his term on September 15. This is why there is a view that the investigation team cannot delay summoning the First Lady any longer.
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