Second special counsel says there are indications Kim Keon Hee received additional luxury goods..."Investigating alleged favoritism in official residence construction"

[Financial News] The Second Comprehensive Special Investigation Team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, has launched a compulsory investigation after detecting indications that First Lady Kim Keon Hee received additional luxury goods in connection with alleged favoritism in the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea official residence relocation project.
Assistant Special Prosecutor Kim Ji-mi held a regular briefing that afternoon at the team’s office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. She stated, "In relation to the construction of the presidential official residence and related projects, we have identified indications that Ms. Kim received additional luxury goods," adding, "We are currently conducting search and seizure operations at the company’s office and the home of its chief executive."
However, Assistant Special Prosecutor Kim declined to say whether the person who provided the luxury goods is the same individual implicated as the bribe-giver in the earlier case investigated by the Special Prosecutor's Team for Kim Kun-hee, led by Special Counsel Min Joong-ki. She also did not disclose the exact timing or value of the alleged transactions, explaining, "Because the search and seizure is still under way, we cannot confirm specific details at this time," thereby avoiding a direct answer to reporters’ questions.
Previously, the Special Prosecutor's Team for Kim Kun-hee concluded that 21 Grams, the interior design firm responsible for remodeling the presidential official residence, had given Christian Dior products to Ms. Kim and, in return, received preferential treatment in being awarded the residence construction contract. On that basis, the team indicted 21 Grams CEO Kim Tae-young and others.
The core allegation is that 21 Grams, a small company that does not even hold a general construction license, was nevertheless awarded a contract to work on the official residence, which is a national security facility, due to improper intervention by Ms. Kim and other higher-level figures.
The 21 Grams CEO and his spouse are known to have had a long-standing relationship with Ms. Kim dating back to her time at Kovana Contents. On May 25, 2022, 21 Grams secured a 1.224 billion won contract for the Office of the President’s official residence relocation project through a private contract, and the company was selected as the contractor just three hours after the bid notice was posted, sparking major controversy.
kyu0705@fnnews.com Kim Dong-gyu Reporter