Seoul: A special counsel team announced that its questioning of Kim Keon Hee concluded earlier than planned on Thursday after the ex-first lady chose to exercise her right to remain silent on most of the charges brought against her.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim appeared at the office of special counsel Min Joong-ki in central Seoul for the first time since her arrest earlier this week on corruption charges. Assistant special counsel Moon Hong-ju stated at a press briefing that they questioned Kim about illegal election interference and nomination interference. However, the suspect refused to testify on most charges, leading to an early conclusion of the session.
Kim was transported to the special counsel's office from the Seoul Southern Detention Center, concealed from public view as she traveled in a prison van through an underground parking route. The interrogation took place from around 10 a.m. to noon, paused, and then resumed from 1:30 p.m. to 2:10 p.m.
The former first lady, wife of ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, was detained at the detention center on Wednesday following a court-issued arrest warrant. The charges against her include involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, interference in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and 2024 general elections, and receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church through a shaman in exchange for business favors.
On Thursday, special prosecutors focused on questioning Kim about the election meddling case. This case involves allegations that the former presidential couple received free opinion polls from self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun before the 2022 presidential election, in exchange for ensuring the nomination of former People Power Party Rep. Kim Young-sun for a parliamentary by-election later that year.
The special prosecutors have requested that Kim return for further questioning at 10 a.m. next Monday. However, she has not yet confirmed her attendance and indicated she would decide after consulting her lawyers at 10:30 a.m. on the same day.
Kim's lawyers have stated that they are discussing her schedule for the questioning, noting her poor health as she is scheduled to see her doctor next week. They also mentioned that Kim is distressed about whether she can "live with my husband again" and is questioning if they "can meet again."