First Lady Kim Keon-hee Asked to Abandon Robot Dog Business, CEO Testifies

A high-profile trial is currently examining allegations of bribery and violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee and Seo Sung-bin, CEO of Drone Dome, a company involved in robot dog technology. The proceedings at the Seoul Central District Court have taken a dramatic turn with Seo's testimony regarding alleged calls from Kim Keon-hee shortly after media reports surfaced concerning his business dealings.

During the trial, Seo testified that following a November 2022 report by the Hankyoreh newspaper detailing his company's alleged preferential treatment in securing a pilot project for robot dog operations, Kim Keon-hee contacted him. According to Seo's account, Kim urged him to abandon the project, suggesting that she could offer assistance in other ventures. He stated, 'She said she could help with other things, so why would I give up the robot dog business for that? It wasn't appealing.' This testimony directly addresses the core of the allegations: whether Kim Keon-hee used her influence to interfere with Seo's business.

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She said she could help with other things, so why would I give up the robot dog business for that? It wasn't appealing.

Further complicating the narrative, Seo also testified that Kim Keon-hee contacted him again a month or two after the initial report. On this occasion, she allegedly requested that he stop mentioning President Yoon Suk-yeol and delete their KakaoTalk conversation history, citing concerns that their communications could be misconstrued. Seo recounted Kim's words, implying he was 'selling the president' and asking, 'Why are you acting like that?' He claimed she asked him to delete the KakaoTalk messages because they could cause problems.

Kim Keon-hee's legal team has vehemently denied these allegations. They maintain that the luxury Vacheron Constantin watch, valued at approximately 40 million won (around $30,000), which Seo allegedly gifted to Kim, was merely a proxy purchase. The defense asserts that there was no solicitation for the robot dog business and no preferential treatment was granted. The court is expected to conclude the defendant's testimony and proceed to closing arguments, with a verdict anticipated next month, as the trial continues to scrutinize the intricate details of these serious accusations.

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She said, 'You're selling the president. Why are you acting like that?' and asked me to delete the KakaoTalk messages because they could cause problems.