Kim Hyang-hee has been implicated in bribery related to the relocation project of the presidential residence. She will be summoned by the prosecution

After being sentenced for charges such as bribery, the former First Lady of South Korea, Kim Hyun-hee, is now required to appear for questioning by the prosecution due to suspicion of accepting bribes and abusing her power to exert pressure during the relocation of the presidential residence.

The Yonhap News Agency reported that the comprehensive independent investigation team handling the case said on Monday (July 13th) that the team would summon Kim Jeong-hi on Sunday (19th) to investigate the aforementioned accusations.

According to the prosecution, Kim Jeong-hyeok is suspected of having involved himself in the selection of the construction contractor for the official residence through former presidential office management secretary Kim Hyun-jin and others.

The construction company for the relocation project of the presidential residence is "21gram", but it does not have the relevant qualifications. The independent investigation team is currently examining the suspicion that this construction company, through its connections with Kim Hyun-hee, obtained the contract to undertake the relocation project of the presidential residence, and plans to question Kim Hyun-hee about whether she instructed or intervened in this construction company's obtaining of the contract.

The relocation of the presidential residence in South Korea refers to the first presidential residence relocation project initiated by former President Yoon Suk-yeol during his tenure in office in 2022.

Since 1948, the Blue House has been the official residence and office of every president of South Korea. After Yoon Suk Yeol took office as president in May 2022, he moved his office to the newly-built presidential palace in the Yeongdeungpo District of Seoul, and the Blue House was opened to the public.

Yoon Suk-yeol announced an emergency state of emergency in early December 2024, which caused political and social unrest. As a result, he was impeached and removed from office. Subsequently, he faced a series of charges, including those related to the internal unrest.

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the largest opposition party in South Korea, the Democratic Party of Korea, won the election in June 2025 and became the new president. After taking office, he announced the relocation of the presidential office back to the Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the "Phoenix Flag", which symbolizes the head of state of South Korea, was raised again at the Gyeongbokgung Palace at the end of December of the same year.