Yoon Accused of Violating Public Official Election Act in 'Myung Taegyun Gate' Case
Kim Faces Charges Including Capital Markets Act Violations Over 'Stock Manipulation and Geonjinbeopsa Allegations'
Former President Yoon Sukyeol is heading to Seoul Detention Center after completing the second pre-arrest suspect hearing (warrant review) held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 9, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps
The special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating the allegations surrounding Kim Keonhee, has notified former President Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Keonhee to appear for questioning. As the special prosecutor team targets both former President Yoon and Kim Keonhee, who are at the center of the allegations, there is speculation that the investigation has passed a critical turning point.
The Kim Keonhee special prosecutor team has decided to summon former President Yoon on July 29 on charges including violations of the Public Official Election Act, and Kim Keonhee on August 6 on charges including violations of the Capital Markets Act. However, since the schedule has not yet been coordinated with the couple, it is uncertain whether they will appear on the dates notified by the special prosecutor team.
Special Prosecutor Moon Hongju stated at a regular briefing on the 21st, "This morning, the special prosecutor sent a request for cooperation in the investigation to the head of Seoul Detention Center, asking former President Yoon to appear as a suspect at 10 a.m. on July 29," and added, "A summons was also sent by mail to Kim Keonhee's residence, requesting her to appear as a suspect at 10 a.m. on August 6."
The special prosecutor team plans to investigate former President Yoon in connection with charges related to the Myung Taegyun Gate. For Kim Keonhee, the investigation will focus on the same Myung Taegyun Gate, as well as allegations related to Deutsch Motors, Sambu Construction, and Geonjinbeopsa.
The core of the so-called 'Myung Taegyun Gate' nomination interference allegation is that former President Yoon and his wife allegedly influenced the nomination process for the June 2022 local elections and the National Assembly by-elections in exchange for receiving opinion polls free of charge from political broker Myung Taegyun ahead of the 2022 presidential election.
There is growing attention on why the special prosecutor team has directly targeted former President Yoon and his wife, who are at the center of the allegations, without first summoning and questioning People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sanghyun, former lawmaker Kim Youngsun, and others implicated in the nomination interference allegations.
Previously, the special prosecutor team revealed that lawmakers were not cooperating with the investigation. By announcing the schedule for the summons of former President Yoon and his wife in advance, it appears to be a strategy to pressure those implicated in the allegations. As there is still more than a week before former President Yoon's scheduled questioning, the plan seems to be to summon all related parties beforehand to solidify the charges.
Regarding the stock price manipulation allegations involving Kim Keonhee, as the authorities have already secured some of the key suspects, it is believed that the investigation can be concluded quickly once Kim Keonhee is summoned for final confirmation. The Geonjinbeopsa allegations are also not considered complex, so it is expected that the investigation can be organized before Kim Keonhee's appearance.
However, the special prosecutor team believes that, given the numerous allegations involving Kim Keonhee, it is unlikely that the investigation will be completed in a single day. Regarding this, Kim Keonhee's legal team stated, "We have not yet received the summons, so it is premature to make an official statement, but Kim Keonhee's basic position to cooperate faithfully remains unchanged."
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