Kim Jin-Woo, the older brother of the former First Lady Kim Kim Keon of South Korea, suffered over seven hours of interrogation on Sunday by the special consultant who investigated the bad financial conduct involving the former presidential family.
The interrogation is part of an intensifying probe that surrounds a scandal of the luxury necklace and irregularities in a controversial soil development project.
Kim Jin-Woo was summoned to the special consultant of Min Joong-Ki to Gwanghwamun, Central Seoul, where he remained until about 10:55 pm, he left the premises with his partially covered face, refusing to respond to the press investigations and not offering any public commentary on the serious accusations against him.
₩ 60 million of Van Cleef The necklace lifts the eyebrows
At the center of the probe there is an estimated Van Cleef & Arpels necklace for ₩ 60 million (about $ 45,000 USD), worn by Kim Keon-Hee during his appearance al Summit In June 2022
Initially, the presidential office said that the series was “Borrowed from a friend.” However, Kim Jin-Woo’s legal team claimed that the object was a reply, therefore exempt from the requirements for the dissemination of the activities. Despite the explanation, the object has never been listed in the official declaration of the property of Yoon Suk-Yeol, arousing further concerns about the potential corruption and illegal concealment of luxury activities.
Scandal for soil development in Yangpyeong
Kim Jin-Woo is also under investigation for suspected irregularities related to a project for the development of the territory in the Gongheung district in the County of Yangpyeong, province of Gyeongi. Public ministries are examining if ESI & DA firm co-founded by Kim Jin-Woo and his mother Choi Eun-Soon, have illegally benefited from the paid exemptions and has maintained questionable bonds with local officials.
The Special Consultant is also dismissing if the false documents have undergone to artificially reduce the declared development costs, which could violate the special law on aggravated punishment of specific economic crimes.
Public silence Fuels speculation
While Kim Jin-Woo came out of the special consultants office, journalists bombed him with pointed questions:
- “Why was the necklace discovered at your mother -in -law’s house?”
- “Was the concealment of the necklace intentional?”
- “Did the former First Lady destroy some tests?”
Kim Jin-Woo did not offer any response, feeding the speculation on the severity of the accusations. He left the building without official escort, intensifying public and media control.
Further investigations in progress
The special consultant confirmed that both Kim Jin-Woo and his mother Choi Eun-Soon will continue to investigate for an alleged undue appropriation, concealment of activities and collusion with public officials. Reports indicate that further luxury articles of high value have been recovered from the property of the mother -in -law and many are subjected to forensic analysis.
These developments mark a significant turning point in the investigation, reporting a wider repression of the potential corruption that involves the former presidential family. With public trust and institutional liability on the line, the results of the probe could have vast implications for the standards of South Korea on transparency in political families.
Daum
