Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor, Seizes 21gram and Others... Accelerating Investigation into Residence Relocation Suspicion

[Financial News] The special prosecutor team for Kim Geon-hee (Min Joong-gi special prosecutor) has launched a forced investigation into the interior company 21gram and others in relation to the suspicion of residence relocation.
The special prosecutor team is conducting a search and seizure of the 21gram office located in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, and related residences on the morning of the 13th on charges of violating the Construction Industry Basic Act. This is the first time the special prosecutor team has launched a forced investigation into the residence relocation suspicion.
21gram is suspected of illegally expanding the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. The Board of Audit and Inspection announced the audit results of the presidential residence relocation construction last year, stating that 21gram and 15 other unqualified companies participated in illegal subcontracting contracts through private contracts. At the time, there were suspicions that 21gram received preferential treatment due to its acquaintance with Kim Geon-hee, but the Board of Audit and Inspection dismissed who recommended 21gram and how it was selected. The special prosecutor is expected to clarify the selection process through future investigations.
Additionally, 21gram is also suspected of winning the residence construction as a reward for sponsoring Cobana Contents operated by Kim Geon-hee. It is known that the spouse of the 21gram representative, Cho Mo, paid an additional amount when exchanging a Chanel bag gifted by Yu Kyung-ok, former presidential office administrator, and Yoon Young-ho, former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters. Cho is said to be an alumnus of the Graduate School of Design at Kookmin University with Kim Geon-hee.
The special prosecutor team plans to examine whether Kim Geon-hee was involved in the residence relocation process, whether she was involved in the selection process of 15 unqualified companies including 21gram, and whether there was any collusion with 21gram through the search and seizure.
The special prosecutor team plans to conduct summons investigations on those involved, including the representative of 21gram. As Kim Oh-jin, former Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, who oversaw the presidential residence relocation, stated in the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee audit last October that Kim Geon-hee did not recommend, it seems that a summons investigation of former Vice Minister Kim will also be conducted soon.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team will summon Park Chang-wook, a Gyeongbuk Provincial Assemblyman of the People Power Party, for investigation from 10 a.m. on this day. Assemblyman Park is suspected of requesting a nomination to the leadership of the People Power Party through Jeon Seong-bae, a former monk, during the local election phase in June 2022. 

theknight@fnnews.com Jeong Kyung-soo Reporter