Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor, Forced Investigation into Myung Tae-kyun's Nomination Involvement Suspicion... Geon-jin Goes to Trial

[Financial News] The special prosecutor team led by Min Jung-gi is launching a forced investigation into former Deputy Prosecutor Kim Sang-min regarding the 'Myung Tae-kyun nomination involvement suspicion'.
The special prosecutor team announced that they began a search and seizure of Kim's local residence from the morning of the 8th. They also stated that Kim will be summoned for investigation on the 9th at 10 AM as a suspect for violating the Political Funds Act.
Kim is identified as the person Kim Geon-hee allegedly tried to nominate for a parliamentary seat ahead of last year's general election. The suspicion centers on Kim Geon-hee's involvement in nominating Kim for the Gyeongnam Changwon Uichang constituency, previously held by former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun.
Myung Tae-kyun claims that Kim Geon-hee instructed support for Kim to win the constituency due to his efforts in the Cho Kuk investigation, promising a ministerial or public enterprise position after the election. However, Kim was cut off in the party's primary and moved to a legal advisory position at the National Intelligence Service in August last year. The special prosecutor team is investigating whether specific influence was involved in the nomination and public office appointment process. To investigate this suspicion, the team conducted a search and seizure of Kim's residence on July 8th and started a forced investigation into the National Intelligence Service on the 18th of the same month.
The special prosecutor team plans to intensively question Kim about the 'Myung Tae-kyun nomination involvement suspicion'. They suspect that the painting 'From the Point No.800298' by artist Lee U-hwan, found at the home of Kim Jin-woo's mother-in-law, was sourced from Kim, and they are investigating whether the nomination was demanded in exchange for the painting. Kim claims he purchased the painting as an agent for money, but Kim Geon-hee's side reportedly stated, "I wouldn't have bought such a painting."
This suspicion is intertwined with not only the 'nomination involvement suspicion' but also the 'selling of positions suspicion', making it difficult for Kim to avoid the special prosecutor's scrutiny. The special prosecutor is expanding the investigation scope to include suspicions like the 'gold turtle suspicion' of former National Education Commissioner Lee Bae-yong and the 'NATO tour 3-piece set' of Seohee Construction.
The special prosecutor team plans to summon former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo as a reference at 2 PM on the same day. They are examining the process of Park Seong-geun, son-in-law of Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-gwan, being appointed as the chief secretary to the Prime Minister. Lee submitted a confession to the special prosecutor team, stating that he delivered a luxury 3-piece set, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, to Kim Geon-hee in exchange for Park's appointment request. Since Han stated that he was appointed based on a recommendation from former President Yoon, the special prosecutor team is expected to investigate whether Yoon and Kim Geon-hee were involved in the appointment process.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team indicted Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geonjin Beopsa, on charges of mediation bribery and violation of the Political Funds Act. Jeon is accused of receiving gifts worth about 80 million won, including two Chanel bags and a Graff necklace, from former Unification Church World Headquarters Director Yoon Young-ho in April and July 2022, along with a request for a position as 'Unification Group Advisor'.
Jeon is also accused of receiving goods and benefits worth 45 million won for requests and mediation related to tax investigations and criminal complaints against Heerim Architects & Planners from 2022 to January this year, and receiving about 160 million won from Conlab Company for business promotion requests and mediation from September 2022 for over 13 months. The special prosecutor team explained that some of Conlab Company's requests were related to the government.

theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter