When is the time for Kim Kun-hee's summoning?

Introduction: The Peak of the Special Prosecutor's Investigation, Is the Summons of Kim Geon-hee Inevitable?

In June 2025, the Min Jung-gi Special Investigation Team officially launched, bringing the so-called 'three major special investigations' (insurrection, Kim Gun-hee, and Cha Sang-byung cases) to the forefront of Korean society. Among these, the investigation surrounding Kim Gun-hee is particularly notable both for its symbolism and political sensitivity. As the spouse of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, Kim Gun-hee has been embroiled in various controversies, including stock manipulation, false academic credentials, false work history, and sponsorship allegations involving Kobana Contents, dating back to the past. However, this is the first time she has come under serious judicial investigation. The Min Jung-gi Special Investigation Team immediately commenced investigations after its establishment, conducting searches and inquiries targeting key accounts and individuals. During this process, the handling of Kim Gun-hee's status, particularly "when she will be summoned," has emerged as a key concern. Before considering the validity of Kim Gun-hee's allegations or the severity of potential penalties, the 'official summons' serves as a crucial barometer to gauge the progress of the investigation. With the special investigation already surrounding key figures close to her, the timing of Kim Gun-hee's summons is becoming a political and social symbol rather than just a logistical schedule.

Main Body - 1. The current flow of the special prosecutor's investigation and the circumstances at each stage

The special investigation into Kim Geon-hee was intensified immediately after the passage of the special investigation law. The special investigation team initially refrained from coercive investigations and focused on voluntary inquiries and data analysis, but soon entered into a full-scale coercive investigation phase by conducting searches and seizures of major accounts and companies. In early July 2025, the special investigation team carried out extensive searches and seizures targeting companies related to Kim, such as Samboo Engineering & Construction, Helbio Tech, and Black Pearl Investment, where suspicions have been raised. Investigations are also being conducted concurrently on former CEO Lee Jong-ho, known to be deeply involved in managing Kim Geon-hee's assets, and her butler Kim Ye-seong. Additionally, the special investigation team has extended Kim's travel ban and is tightening the investigation perimeter by sequentially summoning individuals around her. These movements are interpreted as signals that Kim Geon-hee’s first summons is imminent.

Main body - 2. Analysis of strategies and responses from theKim Geon-hee side regarding the summons

The side of Kim Geon-hee is employing a multifaceted strategy to delay or evade the summons. The most notable method is the time-buying strategy through 'health reasons.' At the beginning of July, when the special prosecution was preparing the summons notification, Mrs. Kim was hospitalized in the VIP ward of Asan Medical Center in Seoul, and she was captured on camera leaving in a wheelchair. This scene has sparked both political symbolism and controversy. Her side maintains that she is ‘under treatment for a chronic illness,’ but a significant portion of public opinion interprets this as a dramatic delay tactic. Additionally, Mrs. Kim's camp has submitted medical documents emphasizing symptoms such as depression, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing, indirectly conveying a ‘cannot attend’ message. This response not only obscures the essence of the investigation but is also interpreted as a dual strategy to provoke political controversy by prompting the special prosecution's compulsory measures. In response, the special prosecution has firmly stated, 'The issue is merely timing, but the summons will definitely take place.'

Main Argument - 3 Major Variables That Determine the Timing of Summoning

The factors determining the timing of Mrs. Kim Geon-hee's summons are influenced not only by the progress of the investigation but also by complex circumstances and variables. The key variables are threefold. ① The return of 'butler' Kim Ye-sung Mr. Kim Ye-sung, known as a close aide to Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, has been convicted of forgery for falsifying a balance certificate belonging to Choi Eun-soon in the past. He has been missing for 85 days since his recent departure to Vietnam. The special investigation team views his escape as one of the biggest obstacles to the investigation. Mr. Kim is deeply involved to the extent that his connection to Mrs. Kim Geon-hee appears in the court ruling, and the evidence and testimonies he possesses are considered crucial links for directly summoning Mrs. Kim. Currently, his passport is not invalidated, and no arrest warrant has been issued, making it difficult to even issue an Interpol red notice. Unless Mr. Kim voluntarily returns, the investigative vacuum is likely to persist for a certain period. ② The Samboo Engineering connection investigation Samboo Engineering is a key company directly or indirectly connected to the stock manipulation allegations against Mrs. Kim Geon-hee. The possibility of a connection with Lee Jong-ho, the former representative of Black Pearl, is being investigated regarding the company's participation in the reconstruction forum, the timing of the sharp rise in stock prices, and the flow of funds related to Mrs. Kim's accounts. The special investigation team has already searched Mr. Lee's home and office, and it is reported that they have secured messages such as 'Samboo Check' in group chats. If this information serves as evidence to substantiate a connection with Mrs. Kim, it could lead directly to her summons. The management of Samboo Engineering maintains that they are "unrelated to Mrs. Kim," but the situation could change at any time depending on the analysis of the evidence. ③ The special investigation deadline and political schedule The investigation period for the Min Jung-ki special investigation team is a basic 110 days plus a 60-day extension, with a maximum of 170 days (expected to conclude around mid-November). This schedule serves as a deadline for when the special investigation team must complete Mrs. Kim's summons. In the political arena, it is analyzed that Mrs. Kim's summons could coincide with the timing of the general election or former President Yoon's re-arrest, potentially serving as a means to intensify pressure for the investigation. Public sentiment is also expressing fatigue over "stalling for time," leading the special investigation team to potentially execute a public summons at a strategic moment.

Conclusion: Late July to early August, Kim Geon-hee's first summons likely

Considering the current investigation progress, the completeness of the outer cordon, and the speed of legal procedures, the first special prosecution summons for Kim Geon-hee is most likely to take place between late July and early August 2025. This timing meets the following conditions: Most investigations and search warrants for key witnesses are completed, Kim Ye-seong's state of evasion has prolonged, weakening the reasons for absence, it is the midpoint of the investigation period, providing sufficient grounds for transitioning to high-intensity measures such as compulsory summons. However, if Kim's side refuses the summons citing health reasons or other external factors, the special prosecution will inevitably enter a phase of legal responses such as requesting an arrest warrant and executing a summons. Ultimately, Kim Geon-hee's summons is a matter of time, and that moment is approaching amidst an ongoing tactical struggle between the special prosecution and the suspect. The 'official summons,' a symbol and turning point of the investigation, will soon act as a signal declaring the legitimacy of the special prosecution and the full-fledged commencement of the investigation. The question of whether a summons will occur is no longer in doubt. The remaining key tasks are when, in what manner, and what political repercussions it will bring.