'A Decisive Week' for Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor: Lee Won-seok to Be Summoned on the 24th... Focusing on Alleged Case Suppression

[Financial News] The Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Team, led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, plans to summon former Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok for questioning regarding allegations of case suppression involving Kim Keon Hee. With the investigation period set to expire on the 28th, the Special Prosecutor Team is expected to accelerate its efforts during this critical final week.
On the 22nd, Deputy Special Prosecutor Oh Jeonghee announced that Lee Won-seok would be summoned as a witness on the 24th in connection with allegations of suppressing the Lady Dior bag luxury gift case and the DEUTSCH MOTORS INC. stock manipulation case involving Kim Keon Hee.
Chang Soo Lee, former Seoul Central District Prosecutor, and the prosecutor in charge of the DEUTSCH MOTORS INC. stock manipulation case, who did not appear on this day, will be summoned again for questioning on the 26th. It is reported that Lee was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts with his legal counsel.
Another prosecutor, referred to as 'A,' who was involved in the investigation, will be summoned for questioning on the 23rd at KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul. A member of the Special Prosecutor Team explained that the reason for summoning Prosecutor A is related to the circumstances surrounding Lee's summons.
With the investigation period set to expire on the 28th, the Special Prosecutor Team intends to speed up its probe into the 'Kim Keon Hee non-prosecution allegations.'
Additionally, the Special Prosecutor Team summoned Kim Gi-hyeon, a People Power Party lawmaker, for questioning regarding the 'Roger Vivier delivery' case. Kim is under investigation as a suspect in violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. He is accused of delivering a Roger Vivier bag worth about 2.6 million won to Kim Keon Hee after being elected party leader in March 2023.
Although Kim Gi-hyeon refused to appear on the 16th, he attended after further discussions between both parties. The Special Prosecutor Team has identified March 17 as the date the bag was delivered to Kim Keon Hee and March 16 as the purchase date. The team also conducted a search and seizure at the Parliamentary Security Office, National Assembly Secretariat, and reportedly secured records showing Kim's spouse entered his office.
The Special Prosecutor Team is reportedly questioning Kim Gi-hyeon on whether he personally handed the bag to Kim Keon Hee and the circumstances surrounding his spouse's letter.
Meanwhile, in connection with allegations that former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife intervened in party nominations, the Special Prosecutor Team has notified former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon to appear for questioning again on the 26th. Han has so far failed to comply with two previous summons. If he does not appear this time, the investigation is likely to conclude without his testimony. Yoon Suk Yeol is suspected of having requested Han to nominate former Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Sang-min ahead of last year's general election.
Although Yoon Suk Yeol was questioned for the first time on the 20th, he denied all allegations. It remains to be seen whether the Special Prosecutor Team can uncover the truth.
However, the Special Prosecutor Team added that it has no plans to summon Kim Keon Hee again before the investigation period ends on the 28th.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter