Mrs. Kim Expected to Be Summoned First, Followed by Yoon
Lee Baeyong to Be Summoned on the 6th for "Golden Turtle Influence Peddling"
Mrs. Kim's Mother and Brother to Be Questioned Tomorrow
The special prosecutor's team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating various allegations involving Mrs. Kim Gunhee, announced that it plans to summon and question former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife within this month regarding the "alleged receipt of precious metals."
The first trial of Mrs. Kim Gunhee, who was indicted and detained on charges of stock manipulation related to Deutsch Motors and allegations of receiving money from the Unification Church, was held on the afternoon of the 24th. Mrs. Kim is entering the courtroom and talking with her lawyer. September 24, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps
On the 3rd, Special Prosecutor Kim Hyeonggeun stated at a regular briefing, "We plan to set and notify a date within this month to summon Mrs. Kim soon in connection with the case of alleged receipt of precious metals under the pretext of personnel solicitation," adding, "The same procedure will be applied to former President Yoon."
The special prosecutor's team is expected to summon Mrs. Kim first, followed by former President Yoon. Through the investigation into Mrs. Kim's alleged involvement in influence peddling, the team aims to determine whether former President Yoon was also involved.
Lee Bonggwan, Chairman of Seohi Construction, previously submitted a written confession stating that in March 2022, he gave Mrs. Kim expensive jewelry, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, while making a personnel solicitation on behalf of lawyer Park Seonggeun, a former prosecutor, asking for a government position. About three months after the necklace was delivered, lawyer Park was appointed as chief secretary to then-Prime Minister Han Ducksoo.
Kim Sangmin, a former deputy chief prosecutor who is accused of purchasing a painting by artist Lee Ufan for 140 million won and giving it to Mrs. Kim in exchange for a nomination request for the April 10 general election last year, was also indicted and detained last month.
In addition, the special prosecutor's team plans to summon and question Lee Baeyong, former Chair of the National Education Commission, on the morning of the 6th regarding the "golden turtle influence peddling allegation." The team had previously notified Lee twice last month to appear, but Lee did not attend, citing health reasons.
The special prosecutor's team believes that Mrs. Kim exercised influence in the process of Lee's appointment as Chair of the National Education Commission after receiving gifts. Previously, a golden turtle, suspected to have been given by Lee along with a personnel solicitation, was found in a safe owned by Mrs. Kim's younger sibling at a nursing home operated by Mrs. Kim's mother, Choi Eunsun.
Furthermore, the special prosecutor's team plans to summon and question Mrs. Kim's mother, Choi Eunsun, and her brother, Kim Jinwoo, on the 4th regarding the "Yangpyeong Gongheung District development favoritism allegation." The team suspects that ESI&D, Mrs. Kim's family company, received preferential treatment during the development of the Yangpyeong Gongheung District.
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