'Bribery-for-Office Allegations' Lee Bae-yong Appears Before Kim Keon-hee Special Counsel... Remains Silent

[Financial News] Lee Bae-yong, the former Chairperson of the National Education Commission who is under suspicion of bribery-for-office, appeared before the Kim Keon-hee special counsel team (headed by Min Jung-ki).
On the morning of the 6th, Lee appeared at the special counsel team's office, located at KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to be questioned as a witness.
Having recently undergone ankle surgery, Lee entered wearing a mask and using a wheelchair. When asked by reporters about the reasons for delivering hanji crafts and a golden turtle, the purpose of sending the personnel suitability review, whether it was for a public office request, and her involvement in resolving the MBN business suspension, Lee did not respond.
Lee is suspected of delivering a golden turtle and hanji crafts to former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, and requesting appointments. The special counsel team reportedly discovered evidence that Lee had handed over jewelry to Kim Keon-hee’s side while searching a nursing home operated by Kim’s mother, Choi Eun-soon, in connection with allegations of preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District. During the search, the team found a letter along with the golden turtle, and after a preliminary investigation, launched a full-scale probe. It was also revealed that Lee had delivered crafts from her Hanji Preservation Foundation to Kim Keon-hee.
The special counsel team is investigating suspicions that Lee handed over jewelry to former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife and was appointed as Chairperson of the National Education Commission in return, as part of the so-called 'bribery-for-office' allegations. The position of Chairperson of the National Education Commission was created during the Yoon administration, and Lee served as its inaugural chair. She announced her intention to resign on the 1st of last month after the allegations surfaced.
During the questioning, the special counsel team plans to investigate how Lee delivered the golden turtle and other items to Kim Keon-hee, whether they were given in exchange for the chairperson position, and her involvement in resolving the MBN business suspension.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter