Fourth Interrogation for Kim Gunhee After Arrest, First for Geonjin Jeon Seongbae
Will Jeon Seongbae, Who Waived His Detention Hearing, Finally Speak?
On August 25, Special Prosecutor Min Jungki's team, which is investigating various allegations against Kim Gunhee, summoned both Kim and Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjin Beopsa, for questioning at the same time.
Former President Yoon Sukyeol's spouse Kim Gunhee is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 12th after completing the pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) on charges of violation of the Capital Market Act, bribery solicitation, and Political Funds Act violations. She is heading to the Seoul Southern Detention Center. 2025.08.12 Photo by Joint Press Corps
Kim arrived at the special prosecutor's office, located in the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, at around 9:36 a.m. on a Ministry of Justice transport vehicle. Since her arrest on August 12, Kim has been summoned to the special prosecutor's office on August 14, 18, and 21, where she was questioned regarding allegations of Myung Taegyun's involvement in candidate nominations, the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation case, and suspicions involving Geonjin Beopsa and the Unification Church's lobbying activities.
The special prosecutor's team focused on each of these allegations, but it is reported that Kim mostly refused to testify, and the team was unable to obtain meaningful answers from her.
Shortly after, at 9:42 a.m., Jeon also arrived at the special prosecutor's office in a Ministry of Justice transport vehicle. This was Jeon's first summons for questioning since his arrest on August 21.
Jeon was arrested on August 21 on charges of bribery solicitation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and violations of the Political Funds Act. He is accused of receiving luxury goods as gifts from the Unification Church between April and August 2022, intended for Kim, and relaying various business and personnel requests on their behalf.
The Unification Church reportedly asked Jeon to lobby for support for the Mekong River development project in Cambodia, the acquisition of YTN by the Unification Church, the hosting of the United Nations Fifth Secretariat in Korea, and invitations to the presidential inauguration ceremony. Additionally, he is suspected of accepting money under the pretense of prayer fees before the June 2022 local elections and relaying lobbying requests related to candidate nominations.
Jeon had previously denied the charges but on August 21, he waived his right to attend the pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) and expressed his intention to accept the arrest. Jeon's legal team explained his absence from the hearing by stating, "He cannot bear the situation where many people are suffering because of him, and he believes that he should naturally be held accountable, so he has decided to accept the arrest."
There is speculation that if Jeon changes his stance and admits to the charges during questioning, the special prosecutor's team may attempt a face-to-face interrogation between him and Kim.
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