Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee is under scrutiny following revelations that she used a secure presidential phone line to speak with a top aide just weeks before being questioned in a major stock price manipulation and bribery probe.
The calls represent a significant development in the ongoing investigation led by independent counsel Min Joong-ki into Kim Keon Hee’s potential involvement in state affairs and possible preferential treatment by prosecutors as Korean media reported.
This comes after confirmation on Monday (16 June) that Kim Joo-hyun also used a secure line to speak with Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung last October — around the time prosecutors dropped charges against the first lady in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case.
Opposition lawmakers argue the calls may have been part of an effort to coordinate a response to the investigation.
“The use of a secure phone by Kim Keon Hee supports suspicions that she was involved in managing state affairs,” said Kim Hyun-jung, spokesperson for the Democratic Party. “Kim Joo-hyun, in his role as senior civil affairs secretary, appears to have acted as a legal proxy for both President Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon Hee to suppress investigations.”
Following confirmation of the secure calls between Shim and Kim Joo-hyun, the special counsel team’s probe may extend to the prosecution.
Shim has denied discussing any criminal cases with Kim Joo-hyun, saying on Monday, “There was no call related to a prosecutorial case.”
Ex-First Lady Kim Keon Hee has been hospitalized at Asan Medical Center in Seoul for severe depression, according to sources in the legal and medical communities. Her health condition was reported to not be critical.
Independent counsel Min Joong-ki said he learned of her hospitalization through media reports and would determine next steps after appointing deputy prosecutors.
Russia accuses Ukraine of repeatedly using anti-personnel mines on civilians and says Kyiv’s recent withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention will not c...
Red Bull have sacked team principal Christian Horner and appointed Laurent Mekies as the Briton's replacement, the Formula One team announced on Wedne...
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he's “cautiously optimistic” about securing a U.S.-EU trade deal within days, highlighting its crucial impor...
The European Union is stepping up its health crisis preparedness by stockpiling essential medical supplies and boosting coordination among member stat...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing foreigners to serve in the Russian army not only during a state of emergency or martial ...
US President Donald Trump has declared a 25% tariff on imports from Japan and South Korea starting August 1, urging both nations to shift production to the US and warning of further tariff hikes if retaliatory measures are taken.
An unidentified North Korean man crossed the heavily guarded land border into South Korea and is currently in custody, according to the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
South Korea’s top trade envoy Yeo Han-koo began a visit to Washington on Friday, aiming to secure a new trade framework with the United States before a 90-day pause on U.S. reciprocal tariffs expires.
South Korea and NATO have agreed to set up a new consultative body focused on defence industry cooperation, aiming to deepen collaboration through joint development and procurement initiatives.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged stronger sanctions and defence support for Ukraine as the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia nears approval.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,500-year-old city in northern Peru that likely served as a key trade hub connecting ancient coastal, Andean, and Amazonian cultures.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Russia accuses Ukraine of repeatedly using anti-personnel mines on civilians and says Kyiv’s recent withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention will not change the conflict dynamics.
Red Bull have sacked team principal Christian Horner and appointed Laurent Mekies as the Briton's replacement, the Formula One team announced on Wednesday.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he's “cautiously optimistic” about securing a U.S.-EU trade deal within days, highlighting its crucial importance for Germany’s export-heavy industries.
Shipments of antimony to the United States have jumped to more than 3,800 tonnes in five months via Thailand and Mexico, customs data show, as buyers find back-door routes around Beijing’s export ban on critical minerals bound for the U.S.
The Kremlin says it remains calm after Donald Trump’s criticism of Vladimir Putin, expressing hope for ongoing dialogue with Washington despite rising tensions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment