South Korean First Lady Refuses to Answer Questions in Special Prosecutor Probe

First Lady Kim Keon-hee appeared before a special prosecutor's team as a suspect for the first time on Tuesday, facing allegations related to the presidential residence's renovation and the receipt of luxury goods. The investigation, which began at 10 a.m. and concluded around 5:50 p.m., saw Kim refuse to answer any questions posed by the prosecution.

The probe centers on accusations that Kim influenced the selection of an interior design firm, '21 Grams,' for the presidential residence's expansion project shortly after President Yoon Suk-yeol took office. Investigators allege she exerted pressure on presidential office officials, including former administrative secretary Kim Oh-jin, to award the contract to the firm, which reportedly lacked the necessary construction licenses. Kim is also suspected of receiving luxury items, such as clothing, from the representatives of '21 Grams' during this period.

“

It is a fact that is completely unknown and I know that it did not actually happen.

Further complicating the investigation, the special prosecutor's team is examining Kim's alleged involvement in the Board of Audit and Inspection's (BAI) decision to downplay an audit into the presidential residence relocation. Evidence suggests that BAI official Yoo Byung-ho, then secretary-general, instructed the audit team to conduct a written inquiry instead of a face-to-face investigation of '21 Grams' at the request of the presidential office's public integrity division. Yoo was subsequently arrested on charges of abuse of power.

Kim's legal team has vehemently denied all allegations. Lawyer Choi Ji-woo stated that Kim had no knowledge of any request to conduct a written inquiry and that such an event never occurred. Regarding the influence peddling allegations, the defense asserted that the claims are one-sided assertions by the special prosecutor's office and that Kim was not involved in the selection of the construction company. The defense maintains that the media reports are based solely on the special prosecutor's claims.

“

I do not know of any such facts. What is reported in the media are one-sided claims by the special prosecutor.