Special Prosecutor Probes Election and Nomination Interference Allegations
Will Kim Keonhee Actively Defend Herself?
Kim Geonhee, who has been detained, appeared for her first interrogation by the special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki on August 14. After being taken into custody late at night on August 12 at Seoul Southern Detention Center, Kim reportedly entered the special prosecutor's office in handcuffs, transported in a Ministry of Justice vehicle.
Yoon Sukyeol's wife, Kim Geonhee, is coming out after the pre-arrest hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 12th. 2025.08.12 Photo by Joint Press Corps
At around 9:52 a.m. that day, Kim arrived at the special prosecutor's office, located in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, by Ministry of Justice transport vehicle. Since she moved through the underground parking lot, no separate photo line was set up.
According to correctional authorities, Kim boarded the transport vehicle at around 8:40 a.m. at Seoul Southern Detention Center, wearing handcuffs and civilian clothes. Under the Execution of Sentences Act, pretrial detainees are permitted to wear civilian clothes during investigations, in addition to prison uniforms.
Special Prosecutor Investigates Nomination Interference... Will Kim Geonhee Actively Defend Herself?
The special prosecutor's team announced to the press that "Kim arrived at 9:53 a.m., and the interrogation began at 9:56 a.m. Today’s investigation will focus on allegations of unlawful election interference and nomination manipulation."
This was the second summons of Kim by the special prosecutor's team, following the previous one on August 6, and the first since her arrest warrant was issued on the afternoon of August 12. Although Kim had completely denied the charges in the previous investigation, she did not exercise her right to remain silent, so she may actively defend herself against the allegations during this interrogation as well.
However, there are concerns that an effective investigation may not be possible, as Kim has complained of deteriorating health since her detention. Her attorney previously stated, "Kim is experiencing difficulties, such as not being able to eat properly due to health issues."
The so-called "Myeong Taegyun Gate" nomination interference scandal centers around allegations that former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife received free opinion polls from political broker Myeong Taegyun ahead of the 2022 presidential election, and in return, exerted influence over the nomination processes for the June 2022 local elections and National Assembly by-elections.
The special prosecutor's team believes that Myeong provided Kim with free opinion polls during the 2022 presidential campaign and then lobbied for former lawmaker Kim Youngsun to be nominated for the Changwon Uichang constituency in the National Assembly by-election held that June.
Myeong is believed to have provided a total of 81 free opinion polls. In addition, Myeong is suspected of being involved in the nomination process for the general election held in April last year. The special prosecutor is also investigating allegations that Kim contacted Myeong during last year's National Assembly nomination process to ask him to help former prosecutor Kim Sangmin.
To determine whether former President Yoon and his wife influenced party nominations, the special prosecutor's team has been conducting investigations into Yoon Sanghyun, a People Power Party lawmaker; former lawmaker Kim; Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform Party; and others. Yoon reportedly testified to the special prosecutor's team that he had phone conversations regarding the nominations of former President Yoon and former lawmaker Kim.
Previously, Judge Jeong Jaewook, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, issued an arrest warrant for Kim on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act, violating the Political Funds Act, and accepting bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, citing concerns about destruction of evidence. Kim, who is being held at Seoul Southern Detention Center, has been assigned inmate number 4398.
After securing custody of Kim, the special prosecutor's team summoned Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjin Bopsa, just one day after her detention, and has been accelerating investigations into other cases, including searches and seizures at the Board of Audit and Inspection and the People Power Party headquarters, in addition to the main allegations.
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