'Golden Turtle' Lee Baeyong Appearance Being Arranged
The special prosecutor's team led by Min Junggi, which is investigating various allegations surrounding Kim Keonhee, is set to summon Shin Sujin, former Presidential Office Secretary for Culture and Sports, next week for questioning regarding the so-called 'Jongmyo Tea Gathering' allegations.
Kim Keonhee, wife of former President Yoon Seokyeol, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after attending the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) on the afternoon of the 12th. 2025.08.12 Photo by Joint Press Corps
On the 29th, Special Prosecutor Kim Hyeonggeun announced at a regular briefing, "Today, we have sent a summons notice by mail requesting former Secretary Shin to appear as a suspect at 10 a.m. next Tuesday."
Kim Keonhee is under suspicion of having held a tea gathering with outsiders at Mangmyoru Pavilion in Jongmyo in September last year. After criticism arose that a major national historic site had been used for personal purposes, Lee Jaepil, Director of the Palaces and Royal Tombs Center at the National Heritage Administration, appeared before the National Assembly and stated, "It was indeed a private use."
The special prosecutor's team is expected to focus on questioning former Secretary Shin about the specific communications between the Office of the Secretary for Culture and Sports and the Palaces and Royal Tombs Center at the National Heritage Administration prior to Kim Keonhee's tea gathering. It is known that the Office of the Secretary for Culture and Sports requested the opening of Jongmyo to the Palaces and Royal Tombs Center at the time, conducted a preliminary site inspection, and arranged Kim Keonhee's route accordingly.
The Palaces and Royal Tombs Center reportedly granted permission for the use of the site based on Article 34 of the visitor regulations, which pertains to "events such as visits by heads of state," after being notified of Kim Keonhee's visit schedule. Last month, the special prosecutor's team also summoned the head of the Palaces and Royal Tombs Center as a witness.
'Golden Turtle Bribery' Lee Baeyong to Be Summoned Soon
This is a scene of First Lady Kim Geonhee and former National Education Committee Chairman Lee Baeyong visiting Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbokgung Palace in September 2023.
Additionally, the special prosecutor's team is expected to summon Lee Baeyong, former Chairman of the National Education Committee, next week in connection with the 'Golden Turtle Bribery' allegations. Special Prosecutor Kim stated, "We are coordinating the schedule with Lee Baeyong's legal counsel on the premise that she will appear for questioning at the special prosecutor's office next week." Lee Baeyong had been asked to appear as a witness on the 13th and 20th of last month but declined both times, citing health reasons.
The special prosecutor's team suspects that Kim Keonhee exerted influence in the process of Lee Baeyong being appointed as National Education Committee Chairperson after receiving gifts. Previously, a golden turtle, suspected to have been given by Lee Baeyong along with a request for a personnel appointment, was found in a safe owned by Kim Keonhee's younger sibling inside a nursing home operated by her mother, Choi Eunsun.
After the allegations surfaced, Lee Baeyong expressed regret over the situation and announced her intention to resign on the 1st of last month. President Lee Jaemyung accepted her resignation on the 8th. Although Lee Baeyong currently holds the status of a witness, it is possible that her status may be changed to that of a suspect during the investigation.
If the special prosecutor's team determines that Lee Baeyong continues to refuse to appear without a valid reason, there is a possibility that an arrest warrant may be requested. Previously, a Unification Church president who also cited health reasons and failed to comply with three summonses from the special prosecutor's team had an arrest warrant requested as well.
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