[Anchor]
The special counsel has indicted Kim Keon-hee and People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Han-hong on charges of wrongfully intervening in the relocation of the presidential residence during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. Investigators concluded that the two directly meddled in changing the residence site and ensuring that an unqualified company was awarded the construction contract.
Reporter Jang Hun-gyeong has the details.
[Reporter]
The special counsel indicted Kim Keon-hee and People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Han-hong without detention on charges of abuse of power regarding suspicions of preferential treatment in the presidential residence relocation.
The special counsel stated that while the Army Chief of Staff's official residence was initially selected as a candidate site for the official residence considering the opinions of geomancy experts and the scope of reserve funds, the location was changed to the Foreign Minister's official residence after Kim, Yoon—who served as the head of the Blue House Relocation Task Force for the presidential transition committee at the time—and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun visited the Foreign Minister's official residence on multiple occasions.
The authorities also explained that the company chosen for the residence relocation and expansion construction, 21Gram, was allowed to enter into a private contract in violation of laws and regulations following instructions from Kim and lawmaker Yoon.
In particular, investigators concluded that the two intervened in the process by which 21Gram, which lacked a general construction business license, borrowed the license of another construction company. Consequently, they indicted the couple who run 21Gram on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, believing they also provided rewards to Kim.
According to the findings, they gave Kim Dior clothing and precious metals worth 6.88 million won under the pretense of securing the construction contract and receiving favors regarding construction costs, and also paid the 3.24 million won exchange difference incurred when Kim exchanged a Chanel bag she had received from the Unification Church.
Former Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Oh-jin was additionally indicted on charges of violating the Act on Testimony and Appraisal Before the National Assembly.
During the National Assembly audit in 2024, former Vice Minister Kim testified to the effect that he could not remember who recommended 21Gram.
Meanwhile, the special counsel team decided to transfer suspicions—such as mobilizing the Presidential Security Service, which was not included in the investigation scope, to pay construction costs through so-called split contracts—to the National Office of Investigation under the Korean National Police Agency.
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