The special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee will summon former National Education Commission Chairperson Lee Bae-yong on the 13th. The probe is to investigate the "buying and selling of offices" allegation that Lee gave a gold turtle to Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, and received the Chairperson post in return.
Special Counsel Park Sang-jin said at a press briefing on the 2nd, "In connection with the precious metal donation case, we sent by mail yesterday a notice requiring Lee to appear at 10 a.m. on the 13th." The special counsel also notified a person surnamed Park, who was Lee's secretary at the time, to appear on the 14th.
Lee is said to have handed a 5-don gold turtle and a congratulatory card to Kim in Mar. 2022 as a congratulatory gift for the election win. Lee was appointed Chairperson of the inaugural National Education Commission, launched under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, in Sep. of that year.
Lee resigned on the 1st after the controversy surfaced. In a resignation statement, Lee said, "I will faithfully clarify during the investigation whether what was reported in the media is true."
The special counsel launched the probe into the buying and selling of offices allegation by conducting a search and seizure at Lee's home in Mapo District, Seoul, in Aug.
Meanwhile, Han Hak-ja, the head of the Unification Church, did not appear for questioning by the special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee, which had been scheduled for 2 p.m. that day. Han was said to have submitted a nonappearance statement that morning, citing health reasons.
In response, the special counsel said it re-notified Han to appear for questioning at 2 p.m. on the 4th.
Han filed for a detention legality review with the court on the 29th but was rejected and remains held at the Seoul Detention Center. Han's detention expires on the 12th.