Tensions Before Summons... Kim Keon-hee Requests 'Discussion on Investigation Method' but Special Prosecutor Says 'No Need for Discussion'

[Financial News] The special prosecutor team for Kim Keon-hee (Min Jung-gi special prosecutor) is set to summon Kim Keon-hee for investigation, and tensions are rising between the special prosecutor and Mrs. Kim's side even before the investigation. Mrs. Kim's side requested a discussion on the investigation method with the special prosecutor, but the special prosecutor refused, stating "No need for discussion."
According to the legal community on the 23rd, the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor team plans to conduct a summons investigation on Mrs. Kim on the 6th of next month.
Mrs. Kim's side expressed a desire to visit the special prosecutor's office to discuss the investigation method, but the special prosecutor reportedly said, "The date was notified with ample time, so there is nothing special to discuss," and did not accept the request.
It is known that Mrs. Kim's lawyer requested the special prosecutor to investigate one charge per day due to Mrs. Kim's poor health. However, it is understood that Mrs. Kim's side did not request a written investigation or a private summons investigation.
Moon Hong-joo, the deputy special prosecutor, emphasized, "There is no need for discussion," and stated, "The investigation will proceed according to the notified date and time." If Mrs. Kim continues to refuse the summons by demanding discussions, the special prosecutor team may resort to compulsory measures such as an arrest warrant.
It is uncertain whether former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who received a summons notice from the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor team for the 29th, will comply with the investigation. Former President Yoon also continued a power struggle by refusing to comply with the summons investigation by the special prosecutor team for rebellion and foreign affairs (Cho Eun-seok special prosecutor) after his arrest.
The rebellion special prosecutor team notified former President Yoon to appear for investigation on the 11th and again on the 14th, but he did not comply. The special prosecutor team attempted to forcibly bring in former President Yoon, but this also failed due to his refusal, and eventually, he was sent to trial without further investigation.
In the case of Mrs. Kim, she was investigated by the prosecution last year in relation to the 'Deutsche Motors stock manipulation allegations,' but the investigation was conducted at a third location, not at the prosecution office. At that time, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok emphasized a 'principled investigation,' but it was reported that the investigation team visited Mrs. Kim at a separate residence of the security office and reported to the prosecutor general, causing controversy.
Thus, following the rebellion special prosecutor team, the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor team is also facing obstacles in investigating key suspects.
The special prosecutor team for Chae Sang-byeong (Lee Myung-hyun special prosecutor) failed to secure the arrest of Kim Gye-hwan, the former Marine Corps commander, who is a key suspect in the Chae Sang-byeong case investigation pressure allegations. Judge Nam Se-jin of the Seoul Central District Court, who was in charge of the warrant, dismissed the warrant for the former commander, stating that there was no concern about flight or evidence destruction.
However, it is reported that the former commander admitted for the first time during the arrest hearing that he received the so-called 'VIP rage theory.' The former commander had consistently denied the 'VIP rage theory,' but changed his stance after two years.
Special prosecutor Jeong Min-yong explained, "The former commander had stated in court and the National Assembly that he had never heard of former President Yoon's rage, but he admitted during the arrest hearing that he was aware of it for the first time."
He added, "We determined that additional investigation is needed regarding other charges, including the change in the former commander's testimony," and "We plan to summon the former commander again as a suspect soon."
Meanwhile, the rebellion special prosecutor team is expected to intensify the foreign exchange investigation. The special prosecutor team emphasized the necessity of the investigation, stating, "Not investigating the foreign exchange allegations would be dereliction of duty," in response to some criticism that the investigation of military officials undermines national security.
Special prosecutor Park Ji-young explained, "The investigation targets of the special prosecutor team are defined by law, and all reported cases must be investigated," and "Failure to verify the facts and determine the charges for the allegations under investigation would constitute dereliction of duty."
He continued, "The special prosecutor team is approaching this issue with extreme caution and sensitivity in conducting investigations and public relations activities," and "Please refrain from disparaging remarks that the investigation leaks military secrets or undermines national security."

jisseo@fnnews.com Seo Min-ji, Jeong Kyung-soo, Choi Eun-sol, Kim Dong-kyu reporters