Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Summons Former Secretary Jang Sang-yun for Investigation... Focusing on School Violence Cover-up and Jongmyo Tea Gathering

[Financial News] The Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Team, led by Min Joong-ki, summoned Jang Sang-yun, former Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Office of the President of South Korea, for questioning. The team is intensifying its focus on allegations that Kim Keon-hee intervened to cover up a school violence case and misused a tea gathering at Jongmyo Shrine, aiming to solidify the charges in the final stages of the investigation.
On the 25th, Special Prosecutor Sang-jin Park stated, "We have been questioning former Secretary Jang since 10 a.m. today."
Jang Sang-yun is reportedly being questioned as a witness. The special prosecutor team plans to clarify the facts based on Jang's phone call with Kim Keon-hee, which took place when he was serving as Vice Minister at the United States Department of Education (ED). The team intends to ask Jang whether Kim Keon-hee made any remarks regarding the school violence case, whether she instructed a cover-up, and whether he received any contact from former Protocol Secretary Kim Seung-hee.
Additionally, the team plans to question Jang about allegations that Kim Keon-hee privately used the tea gathering at Jongmyo Shrine. Since Shin Su-jin, former Secretary for Culture and Sports at the Office of the President of South Korea, who was identified as a key figure in the Jongmyo Shrine tea gathering, reported to Jang, the team will seek to confirm what Shin reported to him.
The special prosecutor team also plans to investigate these allegations during Kim Keon-hee's summons next month. As Kim Keon-hee is at the center of these suspicions, the team aims to determine her involvement. With the investigation period set to expire next month, the team is concentrating its efforts on proving her involvement.
The school violence cover-up allegation involving Kim Keon-hee centers on an incident in Seongnam, where the daughter of Kim Seung-hee, former Protocol Secretary at the Office of the President of South Korea, who was a third-grade elementary school student, assaulted a second-grade female student multiple times in the school restroom. The victim suffered injuries, including corneal damage, and the school imposed an emergency suspension on Kim's daughter. Although the school violence committee was convened following the victim's report, the disciplinary action was limited to a 10-day suspension and a class change. The forced transfer requested by the victim's family was reportedly not implemented.
In July 2023, shortly after the school violence incident, it was revealed that Kim Keon-hee had a phone conversation lasting over eight minutes with the Vice Minister of the United States Department of Education (ED), raising suspicions. Kim Seung-hee resigned during a National Assembly of the Republic of Korea audit after the allegations surfaced. It is known that in 2009, Kim Seung-hee and Kim Keon-hee completed a graduate program in journalism together. During the 20th presidential election, Kim Seung-hee served as the head of public relations planning for Yoon Suk Yeol's campaign. On October 30 last month, Jang Sang-yun appeared as a witness at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea's Education Committee audit, acknowledged the phone call with Kim Keon-hee, but denied any involvement in a cover-up.
The private use allegation regarding the Jongmyo Shrine tea gathering concerns Kim Keon-hee's meeting with outsiders at Mangmyoru Pavilion inside Jongmyo Shrine in September last year. The gathering took place in Mangmyoru Pavilion, which is normally off-limits to the public, and it was revealed that CCTV recording was suspended from 2:50 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. on a public holiday, fueling suspicions.
Recently, during a National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit, the Korea Heritage Service stated, "During a preliminary inspection of the Jongmyo Shrine tea gathering conducted by the Office of the Secretary to the President for Culture, Sports and Tourism on the morning of September 2 last year, Kim Keon-hee instructed that the route should go from the Sohwamun Gate to Yeongnyeongjeon Hall and then to Mangmyoru Pavilion, and that one section of the shrine should be opened to allow viewing inside Yeongnyeongjeon Hall." Shin Su-jin was summoned for questioning as a suspect in abuse of authority on the 4th.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team is also questioning Kang Cheol-won, former Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul and a close aide to Oh Se-hoon, as well as businessman Kim Hanjeong, in connection with the 'Myung Tae-gyun poll payment allegation.' Both are suspects in violations of the Political Funds Act. Oh Se-hoon is accused of receiving 13 unpublished polls from Myung Tae-gyun before the April 7, 2021 by-election and having the costs paid by his supporter Kim Hanjeong. Kang Cheol-won was identified as the person who managed the campaign and communicated with Myung Tae-gyun on Oh Se-hoon's behalf.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter