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Kim Keon-hee Questioned Under Detention as Counsel Seizes Van Cleef Necklace, Seeks Associate’s Arrest

She faces pretrial detention after investigators recovered the Van Cleef necklace, which contradicts her account, on grounds of evidence-tampering risk

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South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon-hee arrives at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
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Overview

  • A Seoul court granted a detention warrant for Kim on Aug. 12, citing evidence-tampering risks and sending her to pretrial custody in Seoul Nambu Detention Center.
  • On Aug. 14, Kim appeared before special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team for her first post-detention interrogation and invoked her right to remain silent on most charges.
  • The special counsel secured the genuine Van Cleef & Arpels diamond necklace and a voluntary statement from Seohee Construction’s chairman that it was gifted to Kim, contradicting her claim of a counterfeit purchase.
  • The probe spans allegations of receiving ultra-luxury gifts in exchange for favors, meddling in PPP candidate nominations alongside broker Myung Tae-kyun, and stock manipulation schemes including Deutsch Motors.
  • Investigators have sought an arrest warrant for Kim Ye-seong, her longtime associate, on embezzlement and suspicious investments and plan further summonses as the evidence-gathering continues.