"Soldier Formerly of 55th Guard Unit Claims He Left Meal and Waited 105 Minutes After Mrs. Kim's Call"

Kim Geon-hee Reportedly Rode in Armored Vehicle at Presidential Residence
Former Security Group Member Claims Non-Official Duties Were Assigned
Allegations Include Unplanned Outings and Canceled Schedules
Kim Geon-hee's Side Denies All Claims: "Not True"

Claims have been raised that Kim Geon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, took a drive in an armored vehicle of the Mobile Strike Unit at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul.

According to a JTBC report on the 10th, soldiers from the 55th Security Group, who were responsible for security around the Hannam-dong residence, testified that they had to perform non-official duties for the former president and his wife.

Multiple suspicions related to Mrs. Kim were also raised. A former member of the 55th Security Group, identified as A, stated, "(Mrs. Kim) asked, 'Can I try driving that vehicle (armored vehicle)?'" He explained that the Mobile Strike Unit’s armored vehicle can only be driven by those with a military license, so Mrs. Kim was seated beside the driver. He added, "There was also an occasion when an officer drove it instead and took a drive to the residence."

He said that afterward, the soldiers of the 55th Security Group were instructed to memorize specifications and other details about the armored vehicle so they could explain it.

Additionally, A claimed that Mrs. Kim frequently went out unexpectedly, and when notified of her outings, the security team would prepare accordingly but often ended up waiting as the outings were frequently canceled. A said, "There were times when we had to rush out in the middle of meals due to outing notifications," and, "(Mrs. Kim) would sometimes keep the situation on standby for 105 minutes without going out, then suddenly cancel."

A also mentioned that on the first anniversary of former President Yoon’s inauguration, there was a plan for the 55th Security Group soldiers to stand and applaud as the presidential vehicle passed by, but the plan was scrapped.

A representative from Mrs. Kim’s side told JTBC that the claims were "not true."