SEOUL – The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has vehemently criticized the handling of the questioning of First Lady Kim Keon Hee, accusing the prosecution of offering her "privileged treatment" by conducting the interrogation at an unconventional and undisclosed location.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the questioning of Kim Keon Hee by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, which took place at a government building rather than at the prosecutor's office, reflects undue favoritism. This interrogation was related to her involvement in a luxury handbag scandal and alleged stock price manipulation with Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea. "Is Kim the 'first lady' or the 'first president'?" Jung remarked during a Supreme Council meeting, highlighting that such a location for questioning is unprecedented, even for former presidents.
Jung further criticized the prosecutors, likening them to "call-out service providers" or "caterers" and called for Kim to appear in person at a forthcoming hearing concerning an online petition for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, where she has been summoned as a witness.
On the other hand, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has defended the decision, citing the Presidential Security Act which mandates that the first lady is entitled to security protection. PPP Representative Jeong Jeom-sig argued during an emergency committee meeting that since there is no precedent for investigating a first lady during a president's term, conducting the investigation at a disclosed, secure location was justified. The prosecution has also pointed to "security and safety concerns" as the rationale for choosing an off-site location for the questioning.
The controversy centers around allegations that Kim illegally received a luxury handbag worth approximately 3 million won (US$2,175) and other high-value gifts from pastor Choi Jae-young in September 2022, purportedly in return for political favors.