The special prosecutor investigating Kim Keon-hee plans to summon Lee Bong-kwan, the chairman of SEOHEE CONSTRUCTION, again on the 3rd for additional questioning regarding the 'luxury necklace transfer allegations.' The special prosecutor summoned Lee on the 2nd and questioned him for about seven hours.
The special prosecutor noted in a media announcement that "Lee will be re-summoned today at 2 p.m. to proceed with the procedure for signing the record that could not be completed yesterday and to conduct additional investigations."
The special prosecutor suspects that SEOHEE CONSTRUCTION purchased a 'Van Cleef & Arpels' necklace valued at around 60 million won for the purpose of soliciting favors and handed it to Mrs. Kim. The necklace is a model from Van Cleef & Arpels called 'Snowflake Pendant,' which was released in 2015. It has been reported that SEOHEE CONSTRUCTION purchased the same model that Mrs. Kim wore during her NATO trip with former President Yoon on June 2022 on March 9, 2022.
Lee's son-in-law, Park, the former Chief of Staff, was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration in 2022. The special prosecutor is investigating whether SEOHEE CONSTRUCTION handed the necklace to Mrs. Kim in exchange for the Chief of Staff position.
Previously, SEOHEE CONSTRUCTION reportedly wrote in its confession submitted to the special prosecutor that "We bought the 'Van Cleef & Arpels' necklace worth around 60 million won that Mrs. Kim wore during the NATO summit in June 2022 three months before and gave it as a gift, but later took it back." It is also understood that SEOHEE CONSTRUCTION admitted to having made a request for personnel favors from Lee's son-in-law, Park Seong-geun, the former chief prosecutor of the Suncheon branch of the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, when handing over the necklace. Additionally, it has been reported that they submitted the genuine necklace to the special prosecutor along with the confession.