Kim Gunhee to Be Questioned on December 4 and 11,
Yoon Sukyeol on December 17
"Investigation Setback" After Dismissal of Arrest Warrant for Kim Gunhee's Brother
The special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating various allegations against Kim Gunhee, has decided to summon Kim for questioning on December 4 and 11, and former President Yoon Sukyeol on December 17.
On November 20, Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim Hyeonggeun held a regular briefing and stated, "Unless there are special circumstances, those dates will be set as the appearance dates, and summons will be notified through the detention center."
Previously, the special prosecutor team requested that Kim appear as a suspect for questioning on November 24, and former President Yoon on November 26. However, both stated they could not attend, citing deteriorating health and court schedules, respectively.
The special prosecutor team plans to question Kim regarding allegations that she received expensive gifts in exchange for personnel and business favors from former Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Sangmin, Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bonggwan, and robot dog entrepreneur Seo Seongbin. Former President Yoon will be investigated as an accomplice, as Kim is accused of receiving polling results worth 270 million won from Myung Taegyun.
The special prosecutor team will summon Kim to investigate the so-called "sale of public office" allegations and plans to determine whether former President Yoon was involved. If Yoon responds to the summons, it will be his first appearance before the Kim Gunhee special prosecutor team.
'Concerns Expressed Over Dismissal of Arrest Warrant for Kim Gunhee's Brother on Charges of Embezzlement of State Funds'
Additionally, the special prosecutor team expressed concern over the court's decision to dismiss the arrest warrant for Kim's older brother, Kim Jinwoo. Deputy Special Prosecutor Kim stated, "Recently, even for suspects who admitted in court to destroying evidence, arrest warrants are being dismissed, causing significant setbacks to the investigation," adding, "Since the investigation period is limited, attempts to obstruct the investigation through flight, harboring suspects, destruction or concealment of evidence continue."
Kim Jinwoo, the older brother of Kim Gunhee, is appearing for suspect questioning on the 4th at the Kim Gunhee Special Prosecutor's Office set up in the KT Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. 2025.11.04 Photo by Yoon Dongju
The previous day, the court dismissed the special prosecutor team's request for an arrest warrant for Kim. Judge Jeong Jaeuk, the presiding judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, stated, "It is difficult to conclude that the main charges have been sufficiently substantiated beyond suspicion, and for the remaining charges, the suspect (Kim) either acknowledges the basic facts or there is room for dispute."
On November 14, the special prosecutor team requested an arrest warrant for Kim on charges of embezzlement of state funds under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, as well as work-related embezzlement, breach of trust, and destruction of evidence. Regarding Kim's mother, Choi Eunsun, the team decided not to request an arrest warrant, considering the extent of her involvement, her mother-son relationship with Kim, and the relatively low risk of evidence destruction.
They are accused of sequentially managing the development company ESI&D and, despite generating sales of approximately 80 billion won by building a 350-unit apartment complex in the Gongheung District of Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, between 2011 and 2016, inflating construction costs and reducing profits by creating false documents in an attempt to lower development charges.
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