Seoul: A special counsel team on Monday raided a construction company in connection to bribery allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee. The team, led by special counsel Min Joong-ki, carried out the search and seizure against Seohee Construction, suspected of possibly gifting a luxury necklace to Kim in return for a favor involving a government position.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Min’s team has been investigating Kim over the Van Cleef necklace that she wore during an overseas trip in June 2022, which was not included in her legally required asset disclosure. The investigation has also involved a raid on a Van Cleef and Arpels store to secure records showing that an official close to Seohee Construction’s chairman purchased the same necklace model right after the presidential election in March 2022, won by Kim’s husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The investigation took an interesting turn when the team discovered that the chairman’s son-in-law was appointed as the prime minister’s chief of staff in June of that year, just before the overseas trip where Kim wore the necklace. This has led investigators to look into whether company officials may have requested a personnel appointment favor in exchange for the necklace. The team is expected to call in Seohee Construction’s chairman and other relevant individuals for questioning as they continue to delve into the details of the case.