Police Summon Former Minister Kim Hyun-mi's Family for Investigation on Suspicions of Violations of the Farmland Act and Real Name Real Estate Act

One of the three family members of former Minister Kim investigated, the other two to be additionally summoned

Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi [Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-chul] It was confirmed belatedly that the police investigating former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi for alleged violations of the Farmland Act and other laws have questioned members of Kim's family.

The Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency stated on the 16th, "Among the three family members of former Minister Kim, who are the registered owners of the land in question, one has been questioned, and the other two will be summoned for additional questioning."

Former Minister Kim is suspected of purchasing 2,480㎡ of farmland in Wondang-ri, Jangnam-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun in 2012 and building a house there, but not actually farming the land.

According to the police, the house was sold from Kim's husband to Kim's younger brother in 2018, and the sale last year was identified as being to another of Kim's siblings.

The police are investigating whether former Minister Kim actually managed agricultural operations on the land, the process of selling it to family members, and whether the payment was actually made.

Currently, four related individuals, including former Minister Kim, her husband, and two of her siblings, have been registered as suspects. The police plan to decide whether to summon former Minister Kim after completing questioning of the three family members.

Former Minister Kim has explained these allegations by stating, "The house was used by my husband, farming was conducted normally, and the disposal process to my siblings was legitimate."

Earlier, the 'Association of Judicial Exam Preparers (Sajunmo)' filed a complaint against former Minister Kim and her husband and siblings for violations of the Farmland Act and the Real Name Real Estate Act, among other charges, and the police have been investigating since June.

Meanwhile, in June 2017, members of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the then Liberty Korea Party, including Lee Woo-hyun, demanded that former Minister Kim voluntarily resign during her confirmation hearing, stating, "Kim's husband purchased some farmland in Wondang-ri, Yeoncheon-gun in 2012 for agricultural management, but after four months, changed the land's use and built a luxury house, causing the farmland price to double or triple, gaining profits."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.