'Kim Chungsik, Close Associate of First Lady's Mother, Appears Before Special Prosecutor... "No Involvement in Yangpyeong Preferential Treatment"'

On Rumors of a Meeting with Cho Heedae: "I Never Met Him"
Suspected of Gaining Illicit Profits from the Yangpyeong Gongheung District Development

The special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating allegations of preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development involving First Lady Kim Gunhee, has summoned businessman Kim Chungsik, a close associate of Kim's mother.

The first trial of Mrs. Kim Gunhee, who was indicted and detained on charges of stock manipulation related to Deutsch Motors and allegations of receiving money from the Unification Church, was held on the afternoon of the 24th. Mrs. Kim is entering the courtroom and talking with her lawyer. September 24, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The special prosecutor's team called Kim in for questioning at 10 a.m. that day to interrogate him regarding the allegations.

Entering the special prosecutor's office, Kim denied to reporters that he had gained any illicit profit during the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development process, stating, "I was not involved." He also denied ever communicating with People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seongkyo or others on behalf of Kim Gunhee's family regarding the Gongheung District, saying, "That never happened."

Regarding rumors of a meeting with Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Heedae and former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, Kim said, "I never even met them, but the media reported it as if I did. That is a serious mistake." In political circles, suspicions had been raised that Kim had attended a luncheon with Chief Justice Cho, former Prime Minister Han, and former Prosecutor General Jeong Sangmyeong after the Constitutional Court's decision to remove former President Yoon Sukyeol from office, but all parties involved have denied the claims.

During the day's questioning, the special prosecutor's team is expected to press Kim on whether he was involved in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development project and whether he obtained large illicit profits. Kim is known to be both a business partner of Kim Gunhee's mother, Choi Eunsun, and a close acquaintance of the Kim family for over 20 years.

The special prosecutor's team suspects that ESI&D, the family company of Kim Gunhee, received preferential treatment during the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development process.

The allegations of preferential treatment in the Yangpyeong Gongheung District development concern claims that Choi's family company, ESI&D, received special favors-such as paying no development charges at all-while carrying out an apartment development project in the district from 2011 to 2016. Choi and Kim are accused of preparing false documents to inflate construction costs and understate profits in an attempt to reduce the development charges.

In connection with these allegations, the special prosecutor's team conducted a search and seizure in August at Kim's residence and at his personal warehouse located on land owned by Kim Gunhee's family near Gangsang-myeon, Yangpyeong County.

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