Dispute Over Actual User of "Gunhee2"
Recorded Call Released, "Kim Borrowed It Once or Twice"
At the trial of First Lady Kim Gunhee, Jiwon Jung, former presidential office administrative officer who previously served as Kim’s personal secretary, claimed that she herself had registered and used the so-called “Gunhee2” phone number. In response, Special Prosecutor Min Jungki’s team countered by arguing that, based on witness statements and publicly released recordings, Kim Gunhee appeared to be the actual user, leading to a heated exchange in court.
Jiwon Jung, former administrative officer, is arriving at the Kim Gunhee special investigation office set up at KT West in Gwanghwamun, Seoul on the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News
The 27th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo Inseong) held a continued hearing on November 14 regarding Kim Gunhee’s alleged violations of the Capital Markets Act and other charges.
Jiwon Jung, known as one of Kim Gunhee’s “three close aides,” appeared at the trial that day. The special prosecutor’s team believes that Kim Gunhee used the “Gunhee2” number and that Jeon Seongbae, also known as Geonjin Bopsa, delivered a personnel request through this number.
During the trial, Jung insisted that she, not Kim Gunhee, used the number. When the special prosecutor’s team pressed her, stating, “Kim Gunhee said during questioning that she activated ‘Gunhee2’ to share and use it with you, and that she would have reported anything important. Does that mean her statement is false?” Jung replied, “I don’t know why she testified that way.”
The court then issued a warning, saying, “This is your final warning. If you lie here, you will be punished for perjury.”
The special prosecutor’s team also replayed a recorded phone conversation between the “Gunhee2” contact and Yoon Youngho, former worldwide head of the Unification Church. In the recording, Kim Gunhee said, “This number is a bit secret,” and added, “You can send texts or call me at this number. I will get back to you later if I miss your call.”
Jung later testified, “It’s possible that Kim Gunhee borrowed my phone once or twice to make a call.”
The special prosecutor’s team also revealed a personnel request message sent by Jeon to the “Gunhee2” contact, pressing Jung on whether Kim Gunhee was the actual user of the number. On April 19, 2022, after the presidential election, Jeon sent a list of eight people to be hired at the presidential office’s personnel secretary’s office, protocol secretary’s office, and political affairs secretary’s office through the “Gunhee2” contact.
Jung claimed, “At the time, I did not relay this information to Kim Gunhee. I was instructed to print it out because the Presidential Transition Committee would collect it, so I simply printed it as directed.” She further commented on Jeon’s message, saying, “I didn’t know who he was, and I was offended by his informal language. I thought it was a message from a troublesome complainant.”
The court questioned this, asking, “Jeon Seongbae is frequently featured in the media and his photo has been published. How could you not know him?” and “He also served as an advisor at Covana Contents. Surely you must have heard of him?”
That day, Jung also testified that she had seen Kim Gunhee wearing Chanel shoes received from the Unification Church. The special prosecutor’s team presented photos of a Chanel bag, Chanel shoes, and a Graff necklace that Kim Gunhee allegedly received from the Unification Church, and asked Jung if she had ever seen Kim actually use them.
Jung replied, “I have never seen her carry a Chanel bag, but I think I saw her wear Chanel shoes once or twice. I have never seen the necklace.”
Yu, another former administrative officer summoned as a witness that day, submitted a written statement of absence and, as in the previous month, did not appear in court. The court decided to summon Yu again on the 26th and to call Yoon Youngho and his wife, Ms. Lee, former head of finance at the Unification Church, as witnesses.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
