Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu after attending a pre-arrest hearing on Aug. 12 last year. [Yonhap]
Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu after attending a pre-arrest hearing on Aug. 12 last year. [Yonhap]

The second comprehensive special prosecutor's team — led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young and tasked with investigating allegations left unresolved after three earlier special counsel probes into insurrection, Kim Keon Hee and the Marine corporal case — has summoned Kim Keon Hee for questioning Sunday over allegations related to the relocation of the presidential office and residence during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

The special prosecutor's team announced at a briefing Monday afternoon at its office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, that it had summoned Kim to appear Sunday to investigate allegations that she was involved in selecting a contractor for renovation work at the presidential residence through former presidential office management secretary Kim O-jin and others. If the questioning proceeds as scheduled, it will mark the team's first formal probe of Kim. The team said Kim's side had conveyed her intention to appear.

According to the special prosecutor's team, Kim is suspected of involvement in awarding a contract to 21 Grams, an unqualified company, during the relocation of the presidential office and residence under the Yoon administration. On Tuesday, former presidential office administrator Yoo Gyeong-ok appeared before the special prosecutor as a suspect in connection with allegations of preferential treatment in the residence renovation. Yoo is a former employee of Kovana Contents, a company Kim ran.

The special prosecutor's team has also indicted former Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, former presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-gi, former general affairs secretary Yoon Jae-soon and former secretary Kim on allegations of illegally disbursing funds during the presidential residence relocation. However, a court rejected an arrest warrant the team sought against the head of 21 Grams, identified only by the surname Kim. The court turned down the warrant on June 23, saying it could not recognize the necessity or appropriateness of detention.

The special prosecutor's team is also investigating People Power Party lawmakers Na Kyung-won, Yoon Sang-hyeon, Kim Ki-hyun and Kwon Young-jin on charges of obstructing an arrest. The four are accused of joining a rally outside the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to protest the arrest when the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials executed an arrest warrant against former President Yoon last January.

The team said lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyeon and Kwon Young-jin had submitted written statements in lieu of appearing in person. It said Na and Kim Ki-hyun had not submitted statements and were ordered to appear Monday. The PPP lawmakers are understood to regard the special prosecutor's investigation as unjust.

The special prosecutor's team is also investigating former Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong, who declared the Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway project canceled, in connection with allegations that Kim Keon Hee's family received preferential treatment through a route change.

The team is examining whether Won followed proper legal procedures when he announced the cancellation. However, the team said Won had in effect refused to comply with a summons, turning investigators away at his door.

In connection with the Marine corporal case, the special prosecutor's team has booked former presidential office public integrity secretary Lee Si-won on charges of leaking official secrets, on suspicion of tipping off the Marine Corps in advance about the North Gyeongsang Province police agency's plan to conduct a search and seizure at the Marine Corps. The team filed for an arrest warrant for Lee on Friday.


bell@heraldcorp.com