Kim Gunhee's Mother and Brother Testify Without Exercising Right to Remain Silent
While Kim Gunhee has requested the court to allow her to stand trial without detention, the special prosecutor team led by Min Junggi announced on November 4 that they plan to submit a written opinion to the court opposing her release on bail, stating, "We believe bail should not be granted."
The first trial of Mrs. Kim Gunhee, who was arrested and indicted 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 waiting for the trial. September 24, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps
At a regular briefing that day, Special Prosecutor Park Sangjin stated, "Yesterday, Mrs. Kim's bail application was received, and the special prosecutor team basically opposes it," adding, "As key figures are being called to testify during the trial, we believe concerns about possible evidence destruction, such as contact with witnesses, have not been sufficiently resolved."
The previous day, Mrs. Kim filed for bail with the 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Woo Inseong. Mrs. Kim's side reportedly argued that she needs to stand trial without detention because her symptoms of dizziness and anxiety have worsened and she requires appropriate medical treatment.
On the same day, it was confirmed that Mrs. Kim's mother, Choi Eunsun, and her brother, Kim Jinwoo, who appeared before the special prosecutor team regarding the alleged preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development project, gave statements without exercising their right to remain silent. Choi and Kim were summoned as suspects on charges of causing loss to the national treasury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.
The special prosecutor team suspects that ESI&D, the family company of Mrs. Kim, received preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District apartment development project, such as not paying any development charges. Yangpyeong County initially imposed a development charge of approximately 1.7 billion won, but after two rounds of objections and corrections, decided not to impose the charge at all.
Additionally, the special prosecutor team is questioning Shin Sujin, who was then the Presidential Office's Secretary for Culture and Sports, as part of their investigation into Mrs. Kim's alleged tea meeting at Jongmyo Shrine. Shin is being investigated as a suspect on charges of abuse of authority.
On September 3 last year, before Mrs. Kim held a tea meeting with outsiders at Mangmyoru in Jongmyo Shrine, the Office of the Secretary for Culture and Sports reportedly requested the opening of Jongmyo from the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, and, after a preliminary inspection the day before the meeting, arranged Mrs. Kim's route through the site.
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