Kim Geonhee's Side Says "Unable to Eat Since Warrant Hearing, Will Not Attend Tomorrow's Investigation"... Special Prosecutor to Summon Again on 21st

Kim Geonhee Cites Health Reasons for Non-Attendance
Special Prosecutor Requests Arrest Warrant for Jeon Seongbae, Known as 'Geonjin Bopsa'
Search and Seizure of Service Company Linked to Yangpyeong Expressway Allegations
Lee Junseok Appears

On August 20, Kim Gunhee submitted a handwritten statement citing health reasons to the Min Jungki Special Prosecutor's Office, which is investigating allegations against her, and decided not to appear for questioning. The special prosecutor's team plans to issue another summons for August 21. This is the first time Kim has refused to comply with a summons from the special prosecutor's team.

Yoon Sukyeol's wife Kim Gunhee is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after attending the pre-arrest detention hearing on the afternoon of the 12th. 2025.08.12. Photo by Joint Press Corps

On August 19, Park Sangjin, the deputy special prosecutor, stated at a regular briefing, "The investigation was scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow, but at around 1:50 p.m. today, we received a statement from Seoul Southern Detention Center citing very poor health as the reason for non-attendance," and added, "The investigation is unlikely to proceed tomorrow, so we plan to reschedule and issue a new summons for August 21."

Kim's side has reportedly stated that due to depression and related issues, it is difficult for her to sleep or eat, making it hard to undergo consecutive investigations at short intervals. Her attorney said, "Since the pre-arrest detention hearing, Kim Gunhee has not been able to eat," and added, "Due to health reasons, it is difficult for her to appear, so we submitted a handwritten statement through the detention center." Kim, who was first summoned by the special prosecutor's team on August 6, has complied with all three previous investigations.

The special prosecutor's team, which detained Kim on August 12, questioned her on August 14 and 18 about allegations of Myung Taegyun's involvement in candidate nominations and the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case. However, she exercised her right to remain silent in most cases. While Kim's side actively denied the charges in investigations conducted before her detention, she has consistently refused to cooperate with the investigation since being held at Seoul Southern Detention Center.

On August 18, the special prosecutor's team completed its investigation into the candidate nomination interference allegations in the morning and began questioning on the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation allegations in the afternoon. In the next investigation, they plan to question her about these allegations as well as those concerning solicitations involving Geonjin Bopsa and the Unification Church.

'Unification Church and Candidate Nomination Solicitation Allegations' - Arrest Warrant Requested for Geonjin Bopsa

On this day, the special prosecutor's team requested an arrest warrant for Jeon Seongbae, known as 'Geonjin Bopsa,' just one day after his first summons for questioning. Deputy Special Prosecutor Park stated, "In connection with the solicitation allegations, we have requested an arrest warrant for Jeon Seongbae on charges of receiving bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and violating the Political Funds Act."

The special prosecutor's team determined that there was a high risk of evidence destruction, given the inconsistencies in Jeon's statements during questioning the previous day, and a risk of flight, considering that his residence had changed multiple times. Jeon has reportedly denied all charges during the investigation.

Jeon Seongbae, a geomancer identified as the channel through which various solicitations were conveyed to Kim Gunhee, is entering the West building of KT Gwanghwamun in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the Minjungki Special Prosecutor's Office is located on August 18, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongju

Jeon is suspected of receiving a diamond necklace and a Chanel bag, allegedly as gifts for Kim Gunhee, as well as requests regarding church-related issues from the Unification Church between April and August 2022, and delivering them to Kim. He is also suspected of receiving money under the pretext of prayer fees from political figures ahead of the local elections in June 2022 and conveying related requests about candidate nominations to Kim and others.

Search and Seizure of Companies Related to Yangpyeong Expressway... Emergency Wanted Notice for Fugitive Lee Kihun

Additionally, on the morning of August 19, the special prosecutor's team conducted a search and seizure of the offices and employees of a design service company on charges of concealing evidence in relation to allegations of preferential treatment regarding the Yangpyeong Expressway. The Yangpyeong Expressway preferential treatment allegations involve claims that the Yoon Sukyeol administration attempted to provide benefits by changing the expressway's endpoint to Gangsang-myeon, where Kim's family owns land.

The special prosecutor's team also announced that it had requested the National Investigation Headquarters to issue an emergency wanted notice for Lee Kihun, chairman of Wellbiotech and vice chairman of Sambu Construction, in connection with the Sambu Construction stock manipulation case. Lee, identified as the "shadow power" behind the Sambu Construction stock manipulation, has been missing since failing to appear at the pre-arrest detention hearing on July 17 and remains unaccounted for.

Meanwhile, regarding the candidate nomination interference allegations, Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, also appeared before the special prosecutor's team in the afternoon to attend a digital forensic examination. Previously, last month, the special prosecutor's team searched Lee's home and office in Sanggye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, to determine whether former President Yoon and his wife influenced party nominations. Lee's side has consistently denied any knowledge of such interference by the former president and his wife.