Search and Seizure at Former Chief of Staff and Robotic Dog Businessman's Residences
Kim Gunhee Summoned for Fifth Time Ahead of Indictment
Insurrection Special Prosecutor Questions Assemblyman Park Sungjun as Reference
The special prosecutor team led by Min Junggi, which is investigating various allegations against Kim Keonhee, the wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, has conducted a search and seizure related to suspicions surrounding Kim’s acceptance of a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and a Vacheron Constantin watch. The search targeted Park Seonggeun, former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister and son-in-law of Lee Bonggwan, Chairman of Seohi Construction, among others.
Yoon Seokyeol, former president's wife Kim Geonhee, is leaving the courthouse after completing the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (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
On the 28th, the special prosecutor’s office announced to the media, “This morning, in connection with the case of ‘Kim Keonhee’s alleged acceptance of a necklace, watch, and other items,’ we began search and seizure operations at the residence of former Chief of Staff Park, the residence of Seo Seongbin, CEO of Dronedom, and at Dronedom itself.” CEO Seo is a businessman who is reported to have delivered the watch to Kim and subsequently secured a private contract with the presidential office for robot dog-related projects.
Previously, suspicions arose that the necklace worn by Kim during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) tour in June 2022 had been omitted from former President Yoon Sukyeol’s asset disclosure. According to the Public Service Ethics Act, jewelry valued over 5 million won must be reported, yet the necklace in question, worth 62 million won, was not included in the asset disclosure list.
Kim has claimed that the necklace is a counterfeit purchased in Hong Kong 20 years ago. However, the special prosecutor team received both a confession letter and the genuine necklace from Seohi Construction, stating that “the genuine necklace was gifted to Kim Keonhee shortly after former President Yoon’s inauguration and was returned several years later.” It is reported that Lee Bonggwan’s confession letter also contains statements about making personnel requests involving his son-in-law, former Chief of Staff Park.
The special prosecutor suspects that CEO Seo delivered a Vacheron Constantin watch, valued at around 50 million won, to Kim in an attempt to win business from the Presidential Security Service. During questioning, Seo reportedly stated, “I purchased the watch at a discounted price of 35 million won for the First Lady, received 5 million won from Kim, and was supposed to receive the remaining amount from her mother, Choi Eunsun, but that promise was not kept.” The special prosecutor is investigating Seo and others on charges including bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
Special Prosecutor’s Final Summons of Kim Keonhee Before Indictment... ‘Deutsche Stock Price Manipulation’ Investigation
Additionally, on this day, the special prosecutor summoned Kim Keonhee for the fifth time since her arrest. Kim arrived at the special prosecutor’s office, located at KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, at approximately 9:28 a.m. in a Ministry of Justice transport vehicle.
This is expected to be the final investigation before indictment by the special prosecutor. The team has decided to indict Kim while she remains in custody on the 29th. This marks the first time in constitutional history that a former First Lady has been indicted and detained, and that both a former and current presidential couple are simultaneously standing trial while in detention.
Since her arrest on the 12th, Kim has been summoned and questioned by the special prosecutor on four occasions: the 14th, 18th, 21st, and 25th. The special prosecutor has focused on allegations regarding Myung Taegyun’s nomination interference, Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation, and requests involving Geonjin Bopsa and the Unification Church. However, it is reported that Kim has largely exercised her right to remain silent, providing few substantive answers.
The special prosecutor plans to focus on unresolved aspects of Kim’s alleged involvement in the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation during today’s questioning. However, it is expected that she will continue to exercise her right to remain silent. The team is also considering whether to add further charges beyond those already specified in her arrest warrant when referring Kim to trial.
Special Prosecutor on Martial Law, Assemblyman Park Sungjun Questioned as Witness... "I Believe There Was Obstruction by the People Power Party"
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok, which is investigating allegations of rebellion and treason related to emergency martial law, summoned Park Sungjun, Assemblyman of the Democratic Party of Korea, as a witness for questioning from around 9 a.m. regarding suspicions of “obstruction of the National Assembly’s lifting of martial law.”
Park Sungjun, Senior Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the National Assembly's Audit Countermeasures Meeting held on the 24th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Upon arriving at the special prosecutor’s office, Assemblyman Park stated, “As the Senior Deputy Floor Leader at the time of martial law, I am familiar with the related matters between the ruling and opposition parties. I will provide detailed information about the internal situation at the National Assembly at that time,” adding, “I firmly believe there was obstruction (of the vote) from within the People Power Party.”
Assemblyman Park was one of the 190 lawmakers who attended the vote on the resolution demanding the lifting of martial law and cast a vote in favor. He previously revealed that at 10:40 p.m. on December 3 last year, immediately after the declaration of martial law, he was the first to send a message in the Democratic Party’s Telegram chat room calling for members to gather in the National Assembly main chamber.
The special prosecutor is expected to question Assemblyman Park about how the police blocked lawmakers and their aides from entering the National Assembly during the period of martial law.
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