Special Prosecutor: "Yoon's Side Has Not Yet Stated Whether He Will Appear for Questioning on the 29th"
Min Joongki, the special prosecutor handling the case related to allegations against Kim Gunhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, is giving a greeting speech at the plaque unveiling ceremony held on the 2nd at the special prosecutor's office set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The special prosecutor team led by Min Junggi has begun efforts to secure the custody of suspects implicated in the so-called "Geonjinbeopsa Gate" scandal.
On July 28, special prosecutor Oh Junghui announced at a regular briefing, "We have requested an arrest warrant for Mr. Lee on charges of receiving money for influence peddling under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, in connection with the allegations involving Geonjinbeopsa and others."
The "Geonjinbeopsa Gate" refers to allegations that Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjinbeopsa, received a diamond necklace and luxury bags from the Unification Church between April and August 2022 as gifts intended for Mrs. Kim, delivered them to her, and conveyed requests from the Unification Church regarding its pending issues.
There are also allegations that, ahead of the 2022 local elections, Jeon received money under the pretext of prayer fees from political figures and relayed nomination-related requests to Mrs. Kim and other key political insiders. The individual for whom the special prosecutor team requested an arrest warrant, Mr. Lee, is not affiliated with the Unification Church but is reportedly one of those implicated in the influence-peddling allegations involving Geonjinbeopsa.
In addition, former President Yoon Sukyeol has not yet indicated whether he will comply with the special prosecutor team's summons for questioning scheduled for July 29. Former President Yoon has also been absent from both the special prosecutor's investigation into insurrection charges and the trial for leading an insurrection and abuse of power, which is being heard by the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Guyon), making it uncertain whether he will respond to the special prosecutor's summons.
The special prosecutor team is also investigating the so-called "Myung Taegyun Gate" allegations, which center on suspicions that, ahead of the 2022 presidential election, former President Yoon and his wife received free public opinion polling from political broker Myung Taegyun and, in return, exercised influence over the nomination processes for the June 2022 local elections and the by-elections for the National Assembly.
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