Special Prosecutor: "Kim Gunhee Mostly Exercised Right to Remain Silent... Occasionally Responded 'I Don't Know, I Don't Remember'"

Second Interrogation of Kim Gunhee After Detention
"Comparison of People Power Party Membership Lists Underway"

On August 18, the special prosecutor team led by Min Junggi, which is investigating allegations surrounding Kim Gunhee, summoned her for questioning regarding her alleged involvement in candidate nominations and the suspected stock price manipulation case involving Deutsch Motors. At the same time, the special prosecutor's team is attempting a second search and seizure of the People Power Party headquarters in connection with the "Unification Church membership allegations."

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

Special Prosecutor Oh Junghui stated at a press briefing that "the morning questioning, which focused on candidate nomination and election interference, began at 10:00 a.m. and ended at 11:42 a.m.," adding, "In the afternoon, we are investigating the Deutsch Motors allegations." Oh explained that Kim Gunhee exercised her right to remain silent for most questions, occasionally responding with statements such as "I don't know" or "I don't remember."

Previously, after being arrested on August 12, Kim Gunhee also exercised her right to remain silent during questioning by the special prosecutor's team on August 14. While her side actively denied the charges during the investigation prior to her arrest, since being detained at the Seoul Southern Detention Center, she has consistently refused to cooperate with the investigation. Legal experts predict that, given the lack of substantive questioning of Kim Gunhee, the special prosecutor's team may proceed with her indictment without further summons.

Additionally, on this day, the special prosecutor's team dispatched prosecutors and investigators to the People Power Party's central headquarters in Yeouido to attempt to secure electronic data. Special Prosecutor Oh clarified, "We are not submitting, viewing, or otherwise handling lists. Even the term 'voluntary submission' is not accurate," adding, "As far as I know, we are conducting a comparison to verify consistency within the system."

The special prosecutor's team also attempted to execute a search and seizure warrant at the party headquarters on August 13, but the effort was thwarted after a prolonged standoff due to resistance from party officials and staff.

The special prosecutor's team is investigating allegations involving People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seongdong and others regarding requests made by the Unification Church and Geonjin Beopsa. Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjin Beopsa, and Yoon, a key Unification Church executive, are suspected of orchestrating the mass enrollment of church members as party members in an attempt to influence the People Power Party leadership election in March 2023 and the general election in April last year.

Candidate Kim Moonsoo, who is running for the leadership of the People Power Party, is staging a protest in the lobby of the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 14th, objecting to the special prosecutor's search of the party headquarters related to Kim Gunhee. 2025.8.14 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Furthermore, on the afternoon of August 18, the special prosecutor's team indicted Yoon, the former global head of the Unification Church, and Lee, known as the "Geonjin Beopsa broker," while both were in custody, in connection with the "Geonjin Beopsa solicitation allegations."

Yoon is accused of delivering expensive items such as a diamond necklace and a Chanel bag to Kim Gunhee via Jeon between April and August 2022, lobbying her on matters concerning the church, requesting support for Unification Church events, and illegally providing political funds to political circles.

Yoon claims that he delivered funds to lawmaker Kwon and others, asserting that he did so with the approval of Unification Church President Han Hakja and other senior executives. Lee, who is known to be close to Jeon, is charged with receiving money and valuables as compensation for brokering requests related to public officials' duties (violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, specifically for accepting bribes for mediation).