Seohee Construction recovers necklace returned by Mrs. Kim… Presented with imitation during court hearing
Special prosecutor criticizes “false statements” from Mrs. Kim’s side… “We will thoroughly investigate the circumstances under which the imitation was discovered and clarify any obstruction of the investigation”
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hanju Yoo = On the 12th, special prosecutor Min Joong-ki’s team announced that Seohee Construction had submitted a statement claiming they purchased a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace for Mrs. Kim Gun-hee.
Special prosecutor Joong-hee Oh held a briefing after Mrs. Kim’s pre-arrest interrogation and shared this information.
The special prosecutor’s team stated, “Yesterday, we conducted a search and seizure at Seohee Construction on charges of bribery, and received a voluntary statement acknowledging that Mrs. Kim Gun-hee was wearing the Van Cleef & Arpels necklace during former President Yoon Seok-yeol’s NATO tour.”
The team clarified that they had seized the necklace, initially provided to Mrs. Kim by Seohee Construction and then returned, and presented it along with an imitation during the court hearing. The actions of Mrs. Kim’s side and associates are considered obstruction of the investigation and evidence destruction, which will be clearly addressed.
Special prosecutor Oh stated, “We have secured the actual necklace that was given to Mrs. Kim Gun-hee, then returned and kept by Seohee Construction several years later,” explaining the acquisition of the genuine necklace, and presenting it along with an imitation found at a relative’s house as evidence.
Further, regarding Mrs. Kim’s claims, he remarked, “Despite receiving the real necklace and wearing it during the NATO tour, Mrs. Kim falsely claimed during the investigation that it was an imitation purchased in Hong Kong 20 years ago.” He emphasized, “We will thoroughly investigate how an imitation of the same model was found at a relative’s house during the search and clarify any obstruction of the investigation and evidence destruction involving Mrs. Kim and related individuals.”
(Seoul = Yonhap News) — Mrs. Kim Gun-hee, wife of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, appeared for her pre-arrest interrogation concerning various charges. The special prosecutor’s team, led by Min Joong-ki, has requested an arrest warrant for Mrs. Kim for alleged violations of the Capital Market Act (related to stock manipulation allegations involving Deutsche Motors), the Political Funds Act (related to the nomination interference by Myung Taekyun), and aggravated punishment under the Act on Specific Economic Crimes for soliciting bribery (related to allegations involving Konjin Buddhist Master and the Unification Church).
The particular necklace worn by Mrs. Kim during the NATO meeting in Spain in June 2022 initially led to suspicions for omission in asset disclosure, which have expanded into bribery allegations.
The special prosecutor’s team identified the purchase of the same necklace model by Seohee Construction employees right after the presidential election, leading to the search and seizure.
The team is also investigating any connections between this matter and the appointment of Park Sung-geun, a lawyer and Seohee Construction chairman’s son-in-law, as the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office in June 2022.
Seohee Construction has consistently claimed, “The necklace is unrelated to us.”