Special Prosecutor to Probe All Sixteen Allegations
Rapid Summons Just One Month After Launching Investigation
Possibility Raised of Arrest Warrant for Kim
Kim's Team: "Denying All Charges" as Strategy
Kim Keonhee, who is considered the central figure in various allegations including the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation, the "Butler Gate" scandal, and interference in party nominations, will stand before the photo line as a suspect on August 6 at the special prosecutor Min Jungki's team. Kim's legal team has announced, "She will not exercise her right to remain silent and will provide direct explanations," signaling a confrontational response. The special prosecutor's team plans to summon Kim to question her about the full range of allegations raised against her.
On this day, Kim is scheduled to appear at the special prosecutor's office located in the KT Gwanghwamun West Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at around 10 a.m., where she will pass through the photo line and proceed to the interrogation room. Her legal team, consisting of three attorneys?Yoo Junghwa, Chae Myungseong, and Choi Jiwoo?will also be present during the investigation.
The background for the special prosecutor's decision to summon Kim about a month after launching the investigation on July 2 appears to be that many of the sixteen allegations specified in the "Kim Keonhee Special Prosecutor Act" ultimately point to her. The special prosecutor's team, which proceeded with the summons earlier than expected, is likely to conduct two or three additional rounds of questioning. Considering public opinion and the seriousness of the case, there are also expectations that a request for an arrest warrant for Kim cannot be ruled out. While it is rare to target a former president and spouse simultaneously, some analysts believe an arrest warrant is more likely, given the critical public sentiment and the nature of the charges surrounding former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife.
◆Kim Keonhee's First Summons: The Pinnacle of Sixteen Allegations
The special prosecutor's investigation into Kim Keonhee covers a total of sixteen items, the broadest scope among the three special investigations (including those on insurrection and the Chae Sangbyeong case).
Allegations against Kim have been persistent since Yoon Sukyeol served as chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. The controversy escalated into a "power-driven stock manipulation" scandal when it was revealed that accounts of Kim's relatives were involved in the Deutsche Motors and Sambu Construction stock manipulation cases. Further controversies included corporate sponsorships through Covana Contents and the acceptance of luxury handbags and expensive necklaces.
Amid these developments, additional suspicions arose over changes to the Yangpyeong Expressway route, preferential treatment in the development of the Gongheung district, intervention in the Daewoo Shipbuilding strike, leaks of state secrets, and lobbying in the Marine Corps and Customs cases, pushing the "First Lady's intervention in state affairs" controversy to its peak. Since the launch of the special prosecutor's team, investigations into associates and key figures related to these matters have made some circumstances more concrete.
◆Unprecedented Possibility of 'Arresting a Former President and Spouse'
The special prosecutor's decision to summon Kim earlier than expected is seen as a strategy to secure her custody and thoroughly investigate the allegations, given that a significant amount of testimony and physical evidence has already been collected, despite the investigation being in its early stages.
Legal experts predict that the special prosecutor's team will seek an arrest warrant for Kim. Although there is no precedent for arresting a former president and spouse simultaneously, the combination of deteriorating public opinion and the gravity of the case makes it highly likely that the special prosecutor will take a direct approach.
After the failed execution of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Sukyeol on August 1, the special prosecutor's team publicly stated that it would use physical force if necessary. They also announced a hardline stance, saying they would seek a new warrant if the current one expired. This tough approach is expected to apply equally to Kim Keonhee.
◆Kim's Side: "We Do Not Admit to Any Criminal Act... Will Respond Sincerely to the Investigation"
Kim's legal team has denied all charges and stated their intention to confront the investigation head-on. One of Kim's attorneys said, "If the special prosecutor asks detailed questions, she will respond to the best of her recollection and cooperate sincerely with the investigation," adding, "Unless the summons is unreasonable, she is also willing to participate in additional questioning."
Regarding the allegation of interference in party nominations, Kim's attorney argued, "If it were obstruction of business by force, there should be a victim, but there is none," and further claimed, "Neither the violation of the Political Funds Act nor the acceptance of luxury goods meets the requirements for a crime." On the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation allegation, the attorney countered, "Most of the transactions were simply individual trades," and "There is no evidence that Kim was aware of or involved in stock manipulation."
Attention is focused on whether Kim Keonhee, who has gone from a "controversial First Lady" to a "suspect," will be able to withstand the special prosecutor's investigation. In particular, this investigation is expected to determine the success or failure of the special prosecutor's probe and serve as a turning point for the political repercussions surrounding former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife.
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