Possibility of Arrest Warrant if Absence Deemed Unjustified
Plan to Summon Lee Baeyong's Former Secretary This Week
On October 20, the special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating allegations related to First Lady Kim Keonhee, summoned Lee Baeyong, former Chairperson of the National Education Commission, in connection with the 'Golden Turtle Bribery Allegation.' However, Lee did not appear. Previously, on October 13, Lee also failed to comply with the special prosecutor's summons.
The special prosecutor's team announced to the media that "Chairperson Lee, who was notified to appear this morning, conveyed through her attorney that she would not attend due to health reasons." The team plans to reschedule and issue another summons for a later date.
If the team determines that Lee continues to be absent without a valid reason, they may request an arrest warrant. Previously, Han Hakja, President of the Unification Church, also failed to comply with three summonses from the special prosecutor’s team, citing health reasons, which led to an arrest warrant being requested.
The special prosecutor's team suspects that First Lady Kim Keonhee exercised influence in the process of Lee being appointed as Chairperson of the National Education Commission after receiving gifts. Previously, a golden turtle, suspected to have been given by Lee along with a request for a favorable appointment, was discovered in a safe owned by Kim’s younger sibling inside a nursing home operated by Kim’s mother, Choi Eunsun.
After the allegations surfaced, Lee stated, "I am deeply sorry for this situation," and expressed her intention to resign on September 1. President Lee Jaemyung accepted her resignation on September 8. Although Lee is currently considered a reference witness, her status may change to that of a suspect during the investigation.
The special prosecutor's team is accelerating its investigation into the allegations. Following searches of Lee’s residence and the National Education Commission, on October 17, the team summoned and questioned Jung, the wife of Jang Daehwan, Chairman of Maekyung Media Group. Jung, who serves as Chairperson of the Jeong Jin-gi Media and Culture Foundation, is known to have acted as a link between First Lady Kim and Lee.
The special prosecutor’s team also plans to summon Park, who previously worked as Lee’s secretary, as a reference witness within this week.
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