Seoul: A former prosecutor suspected of bribing former first lady Kim Keon Hee in exchange for her support for his 2024 parliamentary campaign appeared for questioning by a special counsel team Tuesday. Kim Sang-min arrived at special counsel Min Joong-ki's office in central Seoul to be questioned as a suspect about allegations he gifted the former first lady a painting by renowned artist Lee Ufan in return for her support for his bid to win the then ruling People Power Party's nomination for a parliamentary seat representing Changwon's Uichang district in the April 2024 general elections.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the seat was previously held by Kim Young-sun, and Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker who helped her campaign, has claimed the former first lady promised him a Cabinet position or the presidency of a public enterprise in the event he backed Kim Sang-min's campaign. Kim Sang-min addressed reporters as he arrived at the team's office, stating, "I think much of the investigation-related information that is being leaked through the special counsel's investigation is based on a lot of misunderstanding and speculation. I will go in and respond to those points in detail."
The former prosecutor failed to win the nomination and was later appointed as a legal advisor for the National Intelligence Service. The special counsel suspects the former first lady may have been involved in the appointment process as well.