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Former First Lady Kim Keon-hee's transport vehicle arrives at the second comprehensive special counsel team's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on July 22 / Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, under investigation over alleged favoritism in the relocation of the presidential residence, returned to the detention center after eight hours of questioning by the second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young on July 22.

The special counsel team questioned Kim from 10:00 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. as a suspect on charges of influence peddling under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and abuse of official authority. After questioning concluded, Kim returned to the Seoul Southern Detention Center.

Kim reportedly exercised her right to remain silent, refusing to answer questions from the special counsel team during the interrogation.

Kim is suspected of intervening in 2022 through Kim Oh-jin, former First Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (then presidential secretary for administration), to help interior design firm 21Gram secure the contract for the presidential residence relocation project. She is also accused of receiving financial benefits from 21Gram in return for providing favors such as contract awards.

The special counsel team suspects Kim received financial benefits totaling approximately 10 million KRW from 21Gram. In particular, investigators determined that when Kim exchanged a Chanel bag received from the Unification Church for other items, the wife of 21Gram's CEO accompanied her and paid a difference of about 3.24 million KRW as compensation for favors related to the residence relocation.

Ahead of the questioning, Kim's legal counsel, Chae Myung-sung, said, "The allegations raised are unilateral claims by the special counsel team and are false," adding, "She was not involved at all in the awarding of the residence renovation contract."

Regarding the bribery allegations, Chae countered, "There are records showing money was sent including an extra amount on top of the cost of the clothing received."

                                                                                                         Jeong Min-hoon