Lead
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee has postponed her appearance before a special counsel team investigating alleged irregularities in the 2022 relocation of the presidential residence, citing health reasons, legal sources said Thursday.
The session, originally scheduled for Sunday morning, has been rescheduled to 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the sources. The team, led by special counsel Kwon Chang-young, is looking into allegations related to the relocation of the presidential office and residence from Cheong Wa Dae to Yongsan Ward during the administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Coverage Comparison
Yonhap News Agency reported the postponement in a story published Thursday, noting that Kim had been due to appear before the special counsel team on Sunday. The report cited legal sources and said the session was moved to the following Tuesday.
Earlier coverage by the same outlet described the special counsel team's summons of Kim, with assistant special counsel Kim Ji-mi telling a press briefing that the team planned to question her about allegations she was involved in selecting the construction company for the residence renovation.
A separate Yonhap report from a later date described Kim's appearance before the special counsel team, stating that she arrived at the office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, for questioning. That report also noted that her lawyer dismissed the allegations as "one-sided claims" before entering the office.
Key Claims
The special counsel team suspects that 21 Gram, an interior design company, won the project to renovate the new presidential residence despite being unqualified, due to its past ties to the former first lady. Another report from the outlet said the team suspects the company won the project in exchange for gifts to Kim, including a Dior jacket.
According to the Yonhap report that described Kim's appearance, she is suspected of intervening in the selection of 21 Gram for the project. The same report noted that Kim is currently jailed while standing trial in multiple bribery and corruption cases, and that an appellate court sentenced her to four years in prison on corruption charges in April. The Supreme Court was set to rule on that case Friday.
In addition, the reports noted that incumbent President Lee Jae Myung has returned the presidential residence and office to Cheong Wa Dae, reversing the relocation that occurred under Yoon.
The special counsel investigation stems from Yoon's relocation of the presidential office to the defense ministry compound in central Seoul and the presidential residence to the foreign minister's official residence as part of his campaign pledge, according to one of the reports.
The postponement report did not provide further details on the health reasons cited for the delay, and the rescheduled session is expected to proceed as planned Tuesday.