The special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee summoned Kim Choong-sik, known as a close associate of the first lady's mother, Choi Eun-soon, on the 31st over alleged preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development.
Kim arrived in front of the special counsel's office at KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno District, Seoul, at around 9 a.m. that day. Asked by reporters, "Did you take unfair profits during the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development process?" Kim said, "I was not involved in that."
To another question, "Did you communicate with People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seon-kyo and others for the first lady's family in connection with the Gongheung District?" Kim said, "There was no such thing at all." Asked, "Have you ever met Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo?" Kim said, "I didn't even meet them, but the media aired it as if I had. That is a big wrongdoing."
This questioning comes a little over two months after the special counsel searched Kim's residence and Kim's warehouse located on land owned by the first lady's family near Gangsang-myeon, Yangpyeong County, on Aug. 22.
The alleged preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development concerns claims that ESI&D, a family company of the first lady's family, received special favors while carrying out an apartment development project in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District. Kim is known to have been close to the first lady's family for more than 20 years while partnering with Choi. Kim also served as a director at Bangju Industry, the predecessor of ESI&D.
Previously, ESI&D, a company of the first lady's family, carried out an urban development project from 2011 to 2016 on 22,411 square meters in the Gongheung-ri area of Yangpyeong County and built an apartment complex of 350 units. However, allegations of preferential treatment arose as it became known that no development charges were imposed during the project and that the project deadline was belatedly extended retroactively.
Meanwhile, the special counsel also plans to summon Choi and the first lady's older brother, Kim Jin-woo, on the 4th of next month.