The second consolidated special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young will summon former President Yoon Suk-yeol's wife, Kim Keon-hee, on the 19th to investigate allegations including receiving money or valuables and exerting undue influence related to the presidential residence transfer.
Special Counsel Kim Ji-mi said this at a briefing on the 13th, noting, "We plan to investigate the allegation that she was involved in selecting construction firms through former Presidential Office administrative secretary for management Kim Oh-jin and others."
The special counsel team is currently investigating allegations that 21gram, an unqualified firm, won the presidential residence transfer construction by leveraging its acquaintance with Kim.
To carry out construction such as additions, a general construction license is required. Because 21gram is an interior architecture contractor that can only perform interior work, it cannot carry out residence additions or structural reinforcement work.
Former secretary Kim was indicted and detained last December by the Kim Keon-hee special counsel team on charges including abuse of authority, for allegedly having Wondam General Construction lend its construction business license to 21gram to award the presidential residence transfer project to 21gram.
The special counsel team is currently investigating allegations that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's reserve funds were illegally diverted to cover construction costs that 21gram had excessively calculated.
Regarding allegations of obstructing the arrest of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, the special counsel team notified lawmakers Na Kyung-won and Kim Gi-hyeon, who submitted only opinion letters without written statements, to appear for questioning on the 20th. Two People Power Party lawmakers submitted written statements to the special counsel team.
In connection with the "Yangpyeong expressway route change allegations," the special counsel team notified former Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong to appear, but the appearance notice was not delivered due to the door being closed and no one present.
Regarding allegations of quashing the Deutsch Motors investigation, the special counsel team questioned former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung. Shim was said to have completely denied the allegations.