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Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, arrives at the office of special counsel Min Jung-ki in Jongno, Seoul, on August 6 to be questioned as a suspect on multiple charges including violations of the Capital Markets Act. / Source: Yonhap News

Former first lady Kim Keon-hee underwent her first questioning by special counsel prosecutors on August 6, concluding the session after nearly seven hours of investigation into allegations ranging from stock manipulation to political interference.

According to the office of Special Counsel Min Jung-ki, the session began at 10:23 a.m. and officially ended at 5:46 p.m., with breaks for lunch and rest throughout the day. The prosecutors confirmed that Kim would now proceed to review the written record of the session.

Kim appeared as a suspect in multiple cases, including the alleged stock manipulation involving Deutsche Motors (a violation of the Capital Markets Act), illicit involvement in candidate nominations by Myung Tae-gyun (potential violations of bribery laws, the Political Funds Act, and the Election Act), and influence-peddling through a shaman known as “Geonjin Bopsa.”

Of the 16 allegations under review by the special counsel team, five were the focus of this initial session. The interrogation was led by a senior-level prosecutor, while Kim was accompanied by attorneys Yoo Jung-hwa, Chae Myung-sung, and Choi Ji-woo.

Further summons appear likely, as the team is also probing Kim over additional suspicions, including manipulation of stock prices involving Sambu Construction and preferential treatment linked to the Yangpyeong Expressway development.

Speculation is growing that the special counsel may request a detention warrant should Kim maintain blanket denials of all charges. However, the special counsel’s office declined to comment on such possibilities, stating, “We cannot confirm a second summons or whether a detention warrant will be requested, as these matters are directly tied to ongoing investigations.”