Yoon and Kim Keon-hee Submit Statement of Non-Attendance to Special Prosecutor... Request to Reschedule for Early December

[Financial News] Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee have submitted a statement of non-attendance to the Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Team, led by Min Joong-ki.
On the 18th, the legal representatives for Yoon and Kim mailed a statement of non-attendance regarding the special prosecutor team's summons scheduled for the 24th and 26th. The documents are expected to reach the special prosecutor team as early as the 19th.
It has been confirmed that former President Yoon cited his ongoing court trials as the reason for his inability to attend. He is currently facing three trials at the Seoul Central District Court: the insurrection leadership trial (December 3 martial law), obstruction of official duties (resisting arrest), and general treason (related to the Pyongyang drone infiltration incident). Yoon's legal team explained that since these trials are held twice a week, he is requesting to reschedule the summons for early December.
First Lady Kim Keon-hee requested a schedule adjustment due to health reasons. Recently, she had to leave her own trial due to deteriorating health, and her legal team stated that her doctor advised her to rest. Therefore, Kim's side expressed their intention to appear for questioning after recovering her health, suggesting a date in early December rather than the 24th.
The special prosecutor team plans to question former President Yoon, who is a suspect in violations of the Public Official Election Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery), regarding his alleged involvement in candidate nominations. The investigation will focus on allegations such as the 'Myung Tae-gyun nomination interference,' 'Kim Sang-min former deputy chief prosecutor personnel intervention,' 'Lee Bae-yong former Chairperson of the National Education Commission bribery,' 'People Power Party convention interference,' and 'Lee Bong-gwan, chairman of SEOHEE Construction, lobbying.'
The investigation into Kim Keon-hee will center on so-called 'bribery allegations.' This includes suspicions that Lee Bong-gwan, chairman of SEOHEE Construction, provided a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, that former deputy chief prosecutor Kim Sang-min gave her a painting by Lee Ufan, and that Lee Bae-yong, former Chairperson of the National Education Commission, offered a gold turtle. The special prosecutor team intends to thoroughly examine these matters.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter