Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation, 'Cambodia Fund Suspicion' Ministry of Economy and Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Raided [Comprehensive]

[Financial News] The Kim Geon-hee special investigation team (Min Jung-gi special prosecutor) has launched simultaneous raids on the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the investigation into the Cambodia economic cooperation fund suspicion under the Yoon Seok-yeol government.
Moon Hong-ju, the special prosecutor, announced that raids were conducted on the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Export-Import Bank of Korea, and Heerim Architects & Planners Co., Ltd. (Heerim). The special investigation team sent prosecutors and investigators to the Development Finance Bureau of the Ministry of Economy and Finance at the Government Complex Sejong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Development Cooperation Bureau, and the headquarters of the Export-Import Bank of Korea located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, from the morning to secure PC files, etc. The special investigation team explained that the execution of the search warrant was in the nature of cooperation for the submission of materials for investigation cooperation.
This raid was conducted to investigate the correlation between the Cambodia Official Development Assistance (ODA) project carried out under the Yoon Seok-yeol government and the 'Geonjin Buddhist Monk Solicitation Suspicion'.
Jeon Seong-bae, known as the Geonjin Buddhist Monk, is suspected of having received a diamond necklace and Chanel bag as gifts for Mrs. Kim from Yoon Young-ho, the former head of the Unification Church's World Headquarters, from April to August 2022, and delivering them to Mrs. Kim. The solicitation included support for the Unification Church's Mekong River development project in Cambodia, acquisition of YTN by the Unification Church, hosting of the UN's 5th Secretariat in Korea, and invitation to the presidential inauguration ceremony. Before the case was transferred to the special investigation team, Jeon claimed during the prosecution's investigation that he did receive the items but lost them all.
In June 2022, when Yoon's solicitation was made, the government increased the external economic cooperation fund (EDCF) loan limit for Cambodia from $700 million to $1.5 billion.
Heerim, which was also raided along with government agencies, is known as a company that operated Cobana Contents run by Mrs. Kim and was called 'Mrs. Kim's sponsoring company', and it was also the contractor for the relocation of the presidential residence under the Yoon Seok-yeol government.
Since the Export-Import Bank of Korea is the institution entrusted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance with the operation and management of the EDCF, the special investigation team is expected to look into the reasons, process, and background of the EDCF support limit increase for Cambodia through this raid. 
Meanwhile, regarding Cho Hyun-sang, vice chairman of HS Hyosung, who was scheduled to appear today but did not, the special investigation team stated that they would watch the situation. Vice Chairman Cho left for the 3rd meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) held in Haiphong, Vietnam, from the 15th to the 18th. The special investigation team lifted the travel ban but judged that it was difficult to coordinate due to subsequent schedules. Moon, the special prosecutor, said, "We are not considering an arrest warrant for Vice Chairman Cho and find it hard to see it as a malicious intent to flee, so we are watching."
Regarding Lee Jong-ho, former CEO of Black Pearl Investment, who has been under investigation since this morning, Moon, the special prosecutor, said, "We are planning a second summons investigation within this week after today's investigation," and explained that a face-to-face investigation with Lee Jeong-pil, the first main player in the stock manipulation of Deutsche Motors, is also planned.

theknight@fnnews.com Jeong Kyung-soo Reporter