Third Special Prosecutor Interrogation of Kim Gunhee Ends After Three Hours
Most Questions Met With Silence; Further Summons Scheduled for the 23rd
Kim Gunhee, who is under investigation by the special prosecutor for various allegations including the Geonjin Buddhist Monk solicitation case, underwent her third summons interrogation after her detention, which lasted about three hours. The special prosecutor plans to summon Kim again for further questioning on the 23rd.
On the 21st, Kim arrived at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West, where the office of Special Prosecutor Min Jungki's team is located, transported by a Ministry of Justice escort vehicle.
The special prosecutor's questioning began at around 2:12 p.m. and concluded at approximately 5:30 p.m. She finished reviewing the interrogation transcript at about 6:24 p.m.
The special prosecutor prepared a list of over 100 questions for the suspect interrogation regarding the 'Geonjin Buddhist Monk solicitation allegations,' but it is reported that Kim exercised her right to remain silent for most of the questions.
Yoon Sukyeol's wife, Kim Gunhee, is coming out after the detention hearing (warrant review) 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
The special prosecutor's team plans to summon Kim once more at 10 a.m. on the 23rd to continue the investigation into the Geonjin Buddhist Monk allegations. Previously, Kim was detained on August 12 on charges including receiving bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and subsequently appeared before the special prosecutor's team for questioning on the 14th and 18th.
Initially, the special prosecutor notified Kim to appear for questioning on the 20th, but she submitted a handwritten statement explaining her absence due to health issues. It was reported that on this day, she received an in-person medical examination at the Southern Detention Center before attending the questioning.
In previous interrogations, the special prosecutor's team questioned her about Myung Taegyun's alleged involvement in candidate nominations and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, but Kim also refused to answer most questions at that time.
Kim is accused of receiving expensive necklaces and other valuables, as well as requests regarding church-related matters, from the Unification Church through Jeon Seongbae, known as the Geonjin Buddhist Monk, between April and August 2022 (receiving bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes).
Along with former President Yoon Sukyeol, she is also charged with violating the Political Funds Act by allegedly using her influence to secure the nomination of former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Youngsun in the 2022 parliamentary by-election in exchange for receiving poll results free of charge 58 times from so-called "political broker" Myung Taegyun during the 2022 presidential election. She is further accused of participating as a financier ("jeonju") in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case that occurred between 2009 and 2012, which constitutes a violation of the Capital Markets Act.
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