Seoul: A special counsel team completed its first round of questioning with former first lady Kim Keon Hee regarding her alleged involvement in stock manipulation schemes and other charges. The session, held at special counsel Min Joong-ki's office in central Seoul, lasted over seven hours after commencing at approximately 10:23 a.m.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim is the first spouse of a former or sitting president to appear publicly as a suspect in a criminal investigation. Upon her arrival at Min's office, Kim expressed her regrets to reporters, stating, "I am truly sorry that a nobody like me has caused concern to the people," and pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Kim is accused of participating in a stock price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in South Korea, between 2009 and 2012. She also faces allegations of election meddling in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and the 2024 general elections, as well as receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church through a shaman in exchange for business favors.
The special counsel team is investigating a total of 16 criminal allegations against Kim, suggesting that she may be summoned again for further questioning. These allegations include omitting a high-end necklace from a legally required asset disclosure, making a false statement about her alleged involvement in the stock manipulation scheme during the presidential primaries in 2021, and influencing the share price of a construction company following a visit to Ukraine in 2023.
Additional allegations involve changing the endpoint of an expressway project to benefit land owned by Kim's family in Yangpyeong and receiving preferential treatment in an apartment construction project in the county. The questioning session included a 1 1/2 hour break for lunch and was not recorded on video due to objections from Kim's side.
Assistant special counsel Moon Hong-ju noted that Kim was testifying without exercising her right to remain silent and mentioned that the questioning was just over half complete. He stated, "It's difficult to say when it will be over," and added that it was uncertain whether Kim would be summoned again.
As the questioning continued, protesters for and against the former presidential couple gathered outside the office building, chanting opposing slogans despite the rain. Historically, two other former first ladies have faced investigation. In 2004, Lee Soon-ja, wife of former President Chun Doo-hwan, was questioned in a slush fund case, and in 2009, Kwon Yang-sook, wife of former President Roh Moo-hyun, was questioned as a witness in a corruption case.