Final month, Kim Keon-hee, spouse of South Korea’s impeached and jailed former president Yoon Suk-yeol, was arrested on prices of bribery, inventory manipulation, and election interference. On Thursday, the particular prosecutor main the case stated a portray by Lee Ufan is now on the heart of the inquiry.
Kim’s arrest in August adopted an investigation launched by newly elected president Lee Jae-myung after his inauguration in June. It’s one in all three probes concentrating on Yoon, the conservative former president ousted from workplace in April after making an attempt to impose martial regulation final December.
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Prosecutors allege that former prosecutor Kim Sang-min bought Lee’s From Level No. 800298 in 2023 for round 100 million received (about $75,000) on behalf of Kim Keon-hee’s brother, Kim Jin-woo. The portray was allegedly handed over to the previous first girl’s circle.
The investigation is analyzing whether or not that transaction was linked to political favors, together with Kim Sang-min’s bid for a ruling-party nomination within the 2024 basic elections and his later appointment as a authorized adviser to the Nationwide Intelligence Service.
From Level No. 800298, a portray supposedly by Lee Ufan.
Kim Sang-min has denied receiving any favors, saying he acted solely as an middleman at Jin-woo’s request. “I used to be requested to purchase the portray beneath a hidden identification as a result of if it leaked that the Kim Keon-hee–Kim Jin-woo household was shopping for the portray, its value might enhance by a minimum of two to a few occasions,” he advised the Korean Broadcasting System.
The portray was found at Jin-woo’s mother-in-law’s residence alongside what investigators described as a counterfeit “state go to necklace,” based on KBS.
Including to the controversy, Chosun Ilbo, South Korea’s newspaper of file, reported this week that two Korean artwork appraisers reached conflicting conclusions concerning the portray’s authenticity.
In response, Kim Sang-min stated it was “an embarrassing scenario” and apologized. “On the time of buy, the brokerage agency assured their credibility to the extent that they might go bankrupt if it turned out to be a forgery. I apologize for the present revelation that it might be a forgery,” he added.
The investigation remains to be ongoing.
