South Korean prosecutors have summoned former First Lady Kim Keon-hee to appear for questioning this week in connection with a widening investigation into alleged influence-peddling during the 2022 parliamentary by-elections.
Legal sources confirmed Monday that the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office has issued a summons for Kim to appear as a suspect on Wednesday. She is facing multiple charges, including violations of the Public Official Election Act and the Political Funds Act.
The investigation centers around claims that Kim played a key role in securing the nomination of former People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Kim Young-sun during the 2022 by-elections. The nomination is alleged to have been facilitated through Myung Tae-kyun, a self-described political fixer, who reportedly conducted favorable public opinion polls for President Yoon Suk-yeol — then a presidential candidate — in exchange for Kim’s support.
In addition to the by-election case, Kim is also under scrutiny for her alleged involvement in influencing the PPP’s candidate selection processes for the 2022 local elections and the 2024 general elections.
So far, Kim has not publicly responded to the summons. “We have not yet discussed our official position,” a legal representative for the former first lady told Yonhap News Agency.
Prosecutors are reportedly weighing the option of seeking a detention warrant should Kim fail to comply with repeated summonses without justifiable cause.
Earlier this year, Kim Keon-hee faced renewed public scrutiny amid allegations of election interference and her purported involvement in a controversial martial law decree discussed during the final months of her husband’s presidency. Critics claim that the threat of exposure regarding her role in the 2022 nomination scandal may have influenced former President Yoon’s decision to prematurely initiate the ill-fated decree in December.
The opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has amplified its calls for accountability, asserting that the former first couple’s political maneuvering represents a serious breach of democratic norms and legal integrity.
The outcome of the ongoing investigation is expected to have significant political implications, as the prosecution deepens its probe into high-level interference and illicit campaign activities.
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