Kim Submits Statement of Non-Appearance to Prosecutors
Cites Concerns Over Presidential Election Impact and Health Issues
Kim Geonhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, did not comply with the prosecution's request to appear for questioning. Kim is suspected of being involved in the nomination process for National Assembly and local elections for the People Power Party.
Former President Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Geonhee are talking inside a car as they leave the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on April 11, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongju
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's special investigation team on Myung Taegyun allegations (headed by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Jihyung) notified Kim to appear at the prosecution office at 9 a.m. on this day as a suspect for questioning, but she did not show up.
Kim's side submitted a statement of non-appearance to the prosecution on the 13th. They explained that if the investigation into allegations of intervention in a particular party's nominations proceeds, speculative reporting could proliferate, potentially affecting the early presidential election.
Additionally, Kim's side cited the fact that trials for Democratic Party candidate Lee Jaemyung were postponed until after the presidential election, and that when the prosecution investigated former President Moon Jaein for bribery allegations, he was indicted without a face-to-face investigation. Kim's side also reportedly argued that the investigation schedule should be coordinated in consideration of the political situation, and that her current health condition makes it difficult for her to attend the questioning.
The prosecution is expected to comprehensively review Kim's statement of non-appearance and other factors before deciding on the timing of a re-summons. Typically, if a suspect does not appear, the prosecution sets a new date and sends a second summons. If the suspect fails to comply with the summons about three times without a valid reason, the prosecution may request an arrest warrant and proceed with compulsory measures.
The prosecution is reportedly also considering the option of requesting an arrest warrant if Kim continues to refuse to comply. However, as it takes physical time to set new dates and send second and third summonses and to confirm whether she actually appears, there are expectations that it will be difficult to conduct an investigation through compulsory measures before the June 3 presidential election.
Kim is suspected of receiving poll results from political broker Myung Taegyun during the 2022 20th presidential election and, in return, intervening in the nomination of former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Youngsun for the Changwon Uichang-gu by-election that same year. She is also suspected of exerting influence to have former prosecutor Kim Sangmin (currently a legal advisor to the National Intelligence Service) run for the Changwon Uichang constituency in the 22nd general election last April.
After transferring part of Myung's case from the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in February, the prosecution repeatedly conveyed orally that a face-to-face investigation was necessary, but there has been no substantive coordination.
If Kim appears at the prosecution, it will be her first time being questioned at the prosecution office. Previously, in July last year, when she was investigated for alleged involvement in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case and for receiving a luxury bag, she was questioned at an annex of the Presidential Security Service rather than at the prosecution office.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
