Seoul: The special counsel team investigating allegations surrounding former first lady Kim Keon Hee conducted raids on Monday across approximately 10 locations, including the land ministry, as part of its probe into a controversial expressway project suspected of being rerouted to financially benefit the Kim family.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the special counsel, led by lead prosecutor Min Joong-ki, deployed investigators to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, two subcontractors, and other locations to seize documents and computer files. Allegations claim that the government altered the endpoint of the Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway project to a location in Yangpyeong, east of Seoul, where Kim's family owns land, potentially increasing land value if the road is constructed.
However, the raids did not target then Land Minister Won Hee-ryong and Rep. Kim Sun-gyo of the People Power Party, who was the governor of Yangpyeong county at the time. Kim Sun-gyo is suspected of requesting the route revision. Prosecutors plan to summon Won, Kim, and other ministry officials for questioning after examining the evidence gathered from the raids.
The allegations surfaced after authorities considered a route review in May 2023, despite the project passing a feasibility test in 2021. The land ministry conducted an internal audit at the National Assembly's request, taking 18 months to present findings that revealed some rerouting plan documents were deleted before submission to parliament. Won canceled the project in July 2023 amid the unfolding scandal.
The special counsel has summoned five key suspects, including the vice chairman of Donghae Engineering and Consultants Co., the lead company in the expressway project, to appear for questioning at 10 a.m. Tuesday. During a press briefing, assistant special counsel Oh Jung-hee indicated plans to analyze the confiscated materials while questioning those involved as soon as possible.