Special Prosecutor: "Kim Geonhee Expressed Personal Feelings Rather Than Addressing Charges... Exercised Right to Remain Silent on Most Allegations"

'First Investigation After Detention' Ends in Four Hours
Actual Questioning Lasted Two Hours and Forty Minutes
Additional Summons Scheduled for the 18th

The first investigation of Kim Geonhee by the special prosecutor team led by Min Junggi, following her detention, concluded after approximately four hours. It has been determined that Kim exercised her right to remain silent regarding most of the charges.

Kim Geonhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, who is accused of violating the Capital Markets and Financial Investment Business Act, the Political Funds Act, and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (accepting bribes), is leaving the courtroom after the pretrial detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on August 12, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

At a regular briefing on the afternoon of August 14, Special Prosecutor Moon Hongju stated, "We questioned the suspect, Kim Geonhee, regarding allegations of unlawful election interference and involvement in candidate nominations," and added, "The suspect exercised her right to remain silent on most of the charges. The investigation has concluded for now, and she is currently reviewing the written record." The special prosecutor's team plans to summon Kim again for further questioning on August 18.

At approximately 9:52 a.m. that day, Kim arrived at the special prosecutor's office, located in KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, transported by a Ministry of Justice vehicle. Kim, who was detained late at night on August 12 at Seoul Southern Detention Center, was reportedly transported to the special prosecutor's office in handcuffs.

The morning session of the investigation took place from 9:56 a.m. to 11:57 a.m., and the afternoon session was held from 1:32 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. Excluding break times, the total duration of the investigation was two hours and forty minutes.

Special Prosecutor Moon explained, "The questions we had prepared were related to public opinion polling in connection with candidate nomination interference, and we completed those questions. The investigation concluded early because the suspect refused to answer. However, she did not exercise her right to remain silent on every point; rather, she made some statements regarding her personal feelings, rather than the charges themselves."

This summons of Kim by the special prosecutor's team was the second, following the previous one on August 6, and the first since her arrest warrant was issued on the afternoon of August 12. It is reported that the special prosecutor's team focused their questioning on allegations of Myung Taegyun's involvement in candidate nominations.

The core of the so-called "Myung Taegyun Gate" candidate nomination interference allegations is that former President Yoon Seokyeol and his wife allegedly received free public opinion polling from political broker Myung Taegyun ahead of the 2022 presidential election, and in return, exerted influence over the nomination process for the June 2022 local elections and the National Assembly by-elections.