Attempt to Secure Custody Immediately After First Summons
Kim Gunhee Denies All Allegations During Interrogation
On August 7, the special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating allegations against Kim Gunhee, requested an arrest warrant for her. If the arrest warrant is issued, it will mark the first time in history that a former presidential couple has been detained simultaneously.
Kim Gunhee, who is suspected of being involved in stock price manipulation related to Deutsch Motors, is appearing as a suspect at the Kim Gunhee Special Investigation Team set up in Jongno-gu, Seoul on August 6, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
The special prosecutor's team announced to the media that "at approximately 1:21 p.m., an arrest warrant was requested for Kim Gunhee." This came just one day after Kim's first summons for questioning, and 36 days after the special prosecutor officially launched its investigation on July 2.
The special prosecutor's team summoned Kim Gunhee the previous day and conducted a face-to-face interrogation for about 11 hours. During the investigation, the team reportedly questioned her regarding suspicions of Deutsch Motors stock price manipulation, allegations of Myung Taegyun's intervention in candidate nominations, and suspicions of requests made by Geonjinbeopsa. The team also inquired about the owner of the Van Cleef & Arpels necklace worn during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit trip and why it was not reported as an asset.
Kim Gunhee is reported to have consistently denied all charges without exercising her right to remain silent. Regarding the stock price manipulation, she reportedly stated that she "was not aware of the stock manipulation." On the allegations of intervention in candidate nominations, she testified that "Mr. Myung unilaterally sent the public opinion poll results and I never intervened in the nominations." Concerning the Unification Church-related requests, she explained that she "never received a necklace or a luxury bag." Regarding the necklace, she stated that it was "an imitation gifted to my mother, which I borrowed and wore again."
The special prosecutor's team is believed to have specified these charges in the arrest warrant request.
Other cases under investigation, such as the suspicion of route changes for the Yangpyeong Expressway and allegations of preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development, are expected to be fully investigated after securing Kim Gunhee's custody. There are a total of 16 allegations against Kim Gunhee being investigated by the special prosecutor's team.
Since former President Yoon Sukyeol was detained again by the rebellion special prosecutor team on July 10 and is currently being held at the Seoul Detention Center, if Kim Gunhee is also detained, it will be the first instance of a former presidential couple being detained at the same time.
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