First Lady Kim Keon-hee appears as suspect in residence relocation probe

First Lady Kim Keon-hee appeared before a special prosecutor's team on Tuesday to face questioning as a suspect in the alleged 'residence relocation' scandal. She is being investigated for bribery solicitation and abuse of power under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes.

Kim arrived at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, around 9:30 a.m. in a vehicle from the Ministry of Justice. This marks her first appearance for questioning by the special prosecutor's team, which is handling the remaining cases from three separate special investigations.

The First Lady is accused of influencing the selection of an interior design firm, 21gram, as the contractor for the presidential residence's expansion project in 2022. The alleged influence was reportedly exerted through Kim Oh-jin, then-secretary for management at the presidential office and former vice minister of land, infrastructure, and transport.

The investigation centers on whether Kim Keon-hee used her position to facilitate the company's selection for the lucrative renovation project. The special prosecutor's team, led by Kwon Chang-young, began its inquiry into the matter at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.