'Yangpyeong Development Favoritism'—Kim Keon-hee's Brother May Be Detained... Decision Expected Tonight

On this day, Jeong Jae-uk, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, will hold a pretrial detention hearing for Kim at around 10:10 a.m. The results of the hearing are anticipated to be announced as early as late this afternoon.

Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki's Team, which is investigating allegations involving Kim Keon-hee, requested an arrest warrant for Kim on June 14 on charges of causing loss to state funds under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, as well as embezzlement, breach of trust, and destruction of evidence.

Kim is accused of managing ESI&D in succession with his mother, Choi Eun-soon, and constructing a 350-unit apartment complex in the Gongheung District, Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province, between 2011 and 2016. Despite generating sales of approximately 80 billion won, he allegedly fabricated documents to inflate construction costs and reduce profits in order to lower the development charges.

There are also suspicions that Kim Keon-hee hid expensive jewelry and other items, allegedly received in exchange for personnel or business favors, at the family’s residence.

It has been reported that the individuals involved did not exercise their right to remain silent and have generally denied the allegations.