[Exclusive] Kim Keonhee’s Remarks in Confession: After Receiving Necklace, Asked “Is There Anything I Can Help With?” and Said “Thank You”

After Receiving the Gift, Kim Asked, "Is There Anything I Can Help With?"
Revealed in Confession by Seohi Construction Chairman Lee Bonggwan

It has been confirmed that the confession submitted by Lee Bonggwan, Chairman of Seohi Construction, to the special prosecutor’s team investigating Kim Keonhee includes a passage where First Lady Kim Keonhee, after receiving a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace as a gift, asked Lee if there was anything she could help Seohi Construction with, and expressed her gratitude for the gift by saying "Thank you." The special prosecutor is viewing these remarks as circumstantial evidence suggesting a quid pro quo, linking the acceptance of the gift to the possibility of future support.

According to a compilation of Asia Economy’s coverage on August 13, Lee’s confession contains these details and was submitted in printed form. It is reported that Lee’s seal was affixed to the last page. The end of the confession also reportedly includes an expression written directly by Lee, stating, "I am sorry."

The special prosecutor is focusing on Kim’s question about whether there was anything she could help with as a clue connecting the acceptance of the necklace to suspicions of influence peddling. The conversations that took place before and after the exchange of the gift are likely to serve as crucial evidence in determining whether criminal charges will be pursued.

Meanwhile, on August 11, Lee submitted a confession to the special prosecutor’s team, admitting that he purchased a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace worth approximately 60 million won and delivered it to Kim shortly after former President Yoon Sukyeol’s election victory in 2022. This directly contradicts Kim’s explanation during the special prosecutor’s investigation, where she stated that the item was an imitation purchased in Hong Kong around 2010 as a gift for her mother.

The special prosecutor is investigating the possibility that, after Kim wore the genuine necklace at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and controversy arose, she returned it to Lee and then switched it for an imitation during the phases of the prosecution and special prosecutor’s investigations.