Seohee Construction: "Kim Gunhee Also Received Brooch and Earrings in Addition to Necklace"

Confession Submitted to Special Prosecutor Team
Chairman Admits to "Requesting Favor for Appointment"

The special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating allegations related to Kim Gunhee, has reportedly obtained a written confession from Seohee Construction stating that Kim received not only a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace but also expensive brooches and earrings. The special prosecutor is expanding the investigation by tracking whether there was any quid pro quo involving the high-value jewelry Kim received.

According to legal sources on August 13, Lee Bonggwan, chairman of Seohee Construction, stated in his confession that he met Kim shortly after the presidential election in March 2022 and presented her with a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace worth approximately 60 million won as a congratulatory gift. Kim reportedly asked Lee if there was anything she could do to help Seohee Construction and expressed her gratitude.

Yoon Seokyoul's wife, Kim Gunhee, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after attending the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) on the afternoon of the 12th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Subsequently, Kim returned the necklace around late 2023 or early 2024, saying, "I enjoyed wearing the necklace." The timing coincided with the emergence of the "Dior bag bribery allegations." The necklace in question was the Van Cleef & Arpels piece Kim wore during the NATO Summit in June 2022. Despite its high value, suspicions were raised because it was omitted from the public officials' asset disclosure, which requires reporting jewelry worth more than 5 million won.

The confession also states that in April 2022, about a month after the necklace was given, Lee met Kim again and gave her an additional brooch worth about 30 million won and earrings worth 20 million won. The special prosecutor suspects that Lee provided these expensive pieces of jewelry as a form of influence peddling, given that his eldest son-in-law, attorney Park Seonggeun, was appointed Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister in June of the same year. It is also reported that Lee wrote in his confession that he asked Kim to find out if there was an opportunity for his son-in-law to work in the Yoon Seokyoul administration.

Based on the confession, the special prosecutor is investigating whether there was any quid pro quo involved in Kim's receipt of the jewelry. The previous day, Kim Palsu, CEO of Seohee Construction, was summoned as a witness to verify the purchase process and the source of funds. The confession was presented as a "smoking gun"-decisive evidence-during Kim's pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) the previous day, supporting concerns about destruction of evidence, and Kim was ultimately detained.