The special prosecutor for Kim Keon-hee announced that the summons investigation of Mrs. Kim, which began on the morning of the 14th, concluded after approximately two hours. During this investigation, Mrs. Kim reportedly rejected most of the statements. The special prosecutor plans to summon Mrs. Kim again for questioning on the 18th.
Special prosecutor Moon Hong-joo stated during a briefing that "the special prosecutor investigated the suspect Kim Keon-hee regarding allegations of improper election intervention and nomination interference starting from 9:56 a.m. today," adding that "the morning investigation concluded at 11:27 a.m., and the afternoon investigation resumed at 1:32 p.m. and concluded at 2:10 p.m." It has been reported that Mrs. Kim attended the investigation wearing civilian clothes rather than a uniform.
Special prosecutor Moon noted, "The suspect exercised the right to refuse to testify regarding most of the alleged facts," adding, "It was more about expressing feelings than addressing the allegations, and currently, she is reviewing the investigation materials." He also mentioned that "the special prosecutor plans to further summon Mrs. Kim for questioning on the 18th."
Mrs. Kim is also under suspicion of assisting former People Power Party member Kim Young-sun to secure nomination in the Changwon city electoral district during the 2022 by-election. The special prosecutor suspects that former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife received polling related to the presidential election, valued at 318 million won, for free from Kim Myung-tae and former lawmaker Kim Young-sun during the 2022 presidential election process.
When reporters asked, "If the investigation into improper election intervention and nomination interference is being conducted because it was already underway before the warrant request, does it mean that after securing the suspect, the process will become more specific?" Special prosecutor Moon replied, "Yes. Now, it is the process of solidifying the allegations," adding, "The overall aspects will remain unchanged, while the content will become richer and more detailed."
However, special prosecutor Moon stated that the investigation related to the "luxury necklace and earrings" did not take place that day.
The investigation that day was the first conducted since Mrs. Kim was arrested on the 12th. Director General Jeong Jae-wook of the Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant for Mrs. Kim, who is under investigation for violations of the Capital Markets Act around 11:58 p.m. on the 12th, on the grounds that "there is a risk of destruction of evidence." Mrs. Kim is currently incarcerated at the Seoul Southern Detention Center.
Additionally, special prosecutor Moon said, "Today at 2 p.m., we have also summoned Mr. Kim Ye-seong, the suspect in the so-called 'Housekeeper Gate' incident, and submitted a request for an arrest warrant for violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement) and occupational embezzlement."
'Housekeeper Gate' refers to the suspicion that companies made solicitous investments into Kim's company, known to be the housekeeper of Mrs. Kim's family. Since its establishment in 2013, IMS Mobility, which Kim has been involved with, has consistently been in the red. In June 2023, nine companies, including Kakao Mobility, HS HYOSUNG affiliates, Shinhan Bank, Kiwoom Securities, and Korea Securities Finance, invested 18.4 billion won through funds into this company.
At the time of the investment, the companies were under investigation by the prosecution and thus faced legal risks. Allegations have been raised that Kim utilized her connections with Mrs. Kim to resolve these risks while making the investment.
Kim returned to Korea from Vietnam on the 12th and was immediately detained at Incheon Airport for an investigation by the special prosecutor.
Special prosecutor Moon also stated that investigations began with Lee Jong-ho, former representative of Black Pearl Invest, starting from 2 p.m. that day.
Former representative Lee is known to have managed the stock account of Deutsch Motors belonging to Kim Keon-hee. Earlier, the special prosecutor for Kim Keon-hee had summoned Lee three times for questioning before requesting an arrest warrant for violations of the attorney-at-law Act on the 1st. Director General Nam Se-jin issued the warrant on the 5th, citing the risk of evidence destruction.