Former first lady declines to answer most special counsel questions

Today, the special counsel questioned former first lady Kim Keon Hee, who has been arrested on corruption charges.

However, Kim refused to answer most of the questions on the allegations made against her during the session.

Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports.

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee appeared at a special counsel's office on Thursday morning for questioning, her first session since being arrested earlier this week on corruption charges.

The face-to-face session ended at around 2 PM, about four hours after it began at around 10 AM, during which the special counsel team focused on her alleged interference in candidate nomination processes in past elections.

Unlike during her previous questioning held last Wednesday, according to the team, Kim refused to respond to most of the allegations.

"The suspect exercised her right to remain silent on most of the allegations, and so the special counsel plans to summon and question her again on August 18."

Although the team plans to hold another round of questioning on Monday, Kim's side has not yet confirmed whether she will appear.

In a press release, the special counsel team said they were notified that Kim would inform them of her attendance on the day.

Earlier this week, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken into custody at a detention center in southwestern Seoul on Wednesday after a court issued an arrest warrant with detention on charges including stock price manipulation, interference in party nominations, and political influence-peddling.

This came after the special counsel requested the warrant a day after Kim's first questioning, citing the risk of evidence tampering.

Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.