Seo Jungwook: "She often stays at the office because the house is small"
"Detention warrant expected, legal team being reinforced"
It has been reported that Kim Gunhee, the wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, who had been hospitalized at Asan Medical Center in Seoul after complaining of depression and other issues ahead of the special prosecutor’s investigation, has mostly been staying at her office rather than at home since her discharge.
Seo Jungwook, an attorney known to be close to the former president and his wife, appeared on YTN Radio’s “Lee Ikseon Choi Sooyoung Issue & People” on the 8th and was asked, “Kookmin University has begun the process to revoke Mrs. Kim’s doctoral degree, but cannot proceed because they have been unable to contact her. Have you tried to reach her since she left the hospital?” Seo replied, “These days, Mrs. Kim is rarely at home and often goes to the office of Covana Contents. She is hardly ever at home.” Covana Contents is located on the first basement level of the commercial area in Acro Vista, Seocho-gu, where the former president’s private residence is situated.
Yoon Sukyeol, the spouse of the former president, Kim Gunhee, is standing in line to vote at the Seocho 4-dong 3rd polling station set up at Wonmyeong Elementary School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd of last month, the day of the 21st presidential election. Photo by Yonhap News
Attorney Seo cited the “small size of the house” as the reason why Mrs. Kim is not at home. He said, “The house is quite small, so she tends to stay downstairs at the office,” adding, “When I visited their home, Mrs. Kim was at Covana and wasn’t there.” The Acro Vista apartment where the former president and his wife reside has a total floor area of 207 square meters (60 pyeong), which is nearly twice the 110 square meters (34 pyeong) commonly referred to as the “national average size.” The couple lives with 11 pet dogs and cats.
Later, on the 10th, Attorney Seo appeared on MBC Radio’s “Kim Jongbae’s Focus” and was asked by the host, “Didn’t you say on another broadcast the other day that Mrs. Kim is mostly at the Covana office? How does she go there so often when it’s difficult for her to even walk?” Seo responded, “With depression, you need to stay active.” He explained, “When depression becomes very severe, there are times when it’s hard to walk, but Covana is not far away?it’s right in the same apartment complex. Being active there and meeting people actually helps with depression.”
Regarding the re-arrest of the former president, Seo described it as “quite shocking,” and stressed that “all possible means guaranteed by law must be pursued going forward.” He added, “The president is suffering a great deal of political retaliation,” and said, “I think we should at least apply for a review of the legality of the detention and request bail.” Regarding the investigation into Mrs. Kim, Seo said, “I expect that a detention warrant will be requested, and we are preparing for that.” He added, “We fully expect a warrant to be requested, so we are reinforcing the legal team.”
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