First Lady Kim Gunhee Appears Before Special Prosecutor... "I Sincerely Apologize for Causing Concern as Someone Insignificant"

Kim: "I will cooperate with the investigation... I am always sorry"
Special Prosecutor deploys senior prosecutors, prepares 100-page questionnaire

First Lady Kim Gunhee is arriving at the Special Prosecutor Min Junggi's office set up in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 6th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

First Lady Kim Gunhee, who is facing charges including bribery, appeared before Special Prosecutor Min Junggi's team on the 6th. This marks the first time in the history of the Korean Constitution that a current or former First Lady has been publicly summoned as a suspect by an investigative agency.

At approximately 10:11 a.m. on this day, Kim arrived at the special prosecutor's office located in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, wearing a black suit, shoes, and carrying a handbag. She stated, "I sincerely apologize to the people of Korea for causing such concern as someone so insignificant like myself. I will cooperate fully with the investigation."

When asked if she had anything to say to the public, she briefly replied, "I am always sorry." She did not respond to other questions, such as the reason for wearing a fake necklace during an overseas trip.

After arriving at the special prosecutor's office, Kim waited in a lounge before entering the 12th-floor interrogation room, where questioning began at around 10:23 a.m.

The special prosecutor's team is focusing on several allegations against Kim, including: ▲ allegations of stock price manipulation involving Deutsche Motors, ▲ allegations of intervention in the nomination process for Myung Taegyun, and ▲ allegations of improper solicitation related to Geonjin Bopsa. The investigation is being conducted by Chief Prosecutors Han Moonhyuk and In Hoon, who reportedly prepared a list of questions about 100 pages long. On Kim's side, three attorneys?Yoo Junghwa, Chae Myungseong, and Choi Jiwoo?are present to assist her.

Kim is accused of participating as a so-called "principal investor" in the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation case. She is also suspected of exerting influence over the nomination process for the June 2022 local elections and the National Assembly by-elections in exchange for receiving a free public opinion poll from political broker Myung ahead of the 2022 presidential election. In addition, she faces allegations of receiving a request from Jeon Seongbae, also known as Geonjin Bopsa, on behalf of the Unification Church. Furthermore, the investigation will cover the authenticity of a Van Cleef necklace worth about 60 million won that she wore during the 2022 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit trip, as well as allegations of making false statements during the presidential primary.

It appears that there will not be a late-night interrogation of Kim. The special prosecutor's team plans to summon her two or three more times to thoroughly review all allegations.