Special Investigation Team to Summon Kim Geon-hee for the First Time on July 19, Focusing on 'Presidential Residence Construction Involvement'

Allegations of Involvement in Contractor Selection Through Ohjin Kim
Na Kyungwon and Kim Kimoon Summoned for Questioning on July 20

The second special investigation team led by Kwon Changyoung will summon Mrs. Kim Geon-hee for the first time on July 19 to investigate allegations that she was involved in the selection of a contractor for the presidential residence relocation construction.

Mrs. Geonhee Kim is attending the first trial sentencing hearing for the case of bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Provided by Seoul Central District Court. Yonhap News Agency

On July 13, Special Prosecutor Kim Jimi stated at a regular briefing held at the special prosecutor's office in the Government Complex Gwacheon, "We plan to summon Mrs. Kim for questioning on the 19th," adding, "We will investigate allegations that she was involved in the selection of the residence construction contractor through former Presidential Office Secretary Ohjin Kim and others."

The special investigation team is looking into suspicions that 21gram, an unqualified company, won the contract for the presidential residence relocation construction based on its acquaintance with Mrs. Kim. Former Secretary Kim is currently on trial after being indicted and detained by the Kim Geon-hee special investigation team in December 2025, on charges including arranging for Wondam General Construction to lend its construction business license to 21gram so that it could take on the project.

The special investigation team has determined that 21gram, which is only registered to conduct interior construction, violated the law by taking on the expansion and structural reinforcement work for the residence. The team is also investigating allegations that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's reserve funds were illegally diverted to cover the costs of the residence construction.

Yoo Byungho, an Audit and Inspection Board member under suspicion of abuse of authority during the audit process of the residence relocation, was also questioned by the special investigation team as a suspect on July 13. The team has also investigated individuals involved in allegations that Mrs. Kim received luxury goods such as Dior clothing as a reward for facilitating the residence construction contract.

Regarding the alleged obstruction of the arrest of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, the investigation of Members of Parliament from the People Power Party is ongoing. The special investigation team received written statements from two People Power Party lawmakers and has notified Na Kyungwon and Kim Kimoon, who only submitted opinion letters, to appear for questioning on July 20.

In connection with the allegations of route changes to the Yangpyeong Expressway, the team again notified former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Heeryong and his then-policy aide to appear for questioning. However, the summons to former Minister Won was not delivered because he was not present at his address, and the policy aide reportedly received the summons but did not appear.

In relation to suspicions that the investigation into Deutsche Motors was quashed, the team questioned Lee Wonmo, former Presidential Office Secretary for Personnel Affairs, as a witness, and Sim Woojeong, former Prosecutor General, as a suspect. It was reported that Mr. Lee answered "I don't remember" to most questions, while Mr. Sim denied all allegations.

The pretrial detention hearing for Lee Siwon, former Presidential Office Secretary for Civil Service Discipline, who is subject to an arrest warrant on suspicion of leaking confidential information regarding the Chae Sangbyeong case, will be held on the morning of July 15. The team believes that Mr. Lee obtained information about the search and seizure by the North Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency and leaked it, allowing the 1st Marine Division to be informed of the search and seizure in advance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.