Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Team Imposes Travel Ban on Former Minister Won Hee-ryong and Mrs. Kim's Family
The Special Investigation Team led by Min Jung-ki, investigating 16 allegations against Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, confirmed on the 4th that it has enforced travel bans on former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Won Hee-ryong and Mrs. Kim's family. According to legal circles, the Special Investigation Team implemented the travel ban as soon as it was established, affecting not only former Minister Won but also Mrs. Kim's mother, Choi Eun-sun (78), and her brother, Kim Mo (54). Prior to this, the team had executed a new travel ban on Mrs. Kim following the review process after receiving related records from the police and prosecution last month.
New Travel Ban Executed on Mrs. Kim
Connection Between Yangpyeong Expressway Preferential Treatment and Samboo Construction Stock Manipulation Allegations
Former Minister Won and Choi are believed to be linked to one of the 16 allegations concerning Mrs. Kim, specifically the preferential treatment regarding the Yangpyeong Expressway.
This allegation arose when the endpoint of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway route was changed in May 2023 from the existing location in Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, to a plot of land owned by Mrs. Kim's family in Gang Sang-myeon.
Afterward, former Minister Won declared the project to be null and void.
Additionally, it has been found that former Minister Won is also involved in the stock manipulation allegations surrounding Samboo Construction, which the Special Investigation Team conducted its first mandatory investigation into.
This allegation involves a case where the stock price surged after Lee Jong-ho, the former head of Black Pearl Invest managing Mrs. Kim's account, mentioned "Samboo check" in an online chat room for reserve Marine Corps members.
Samboo Construction attended the International Conference on Ukraine Reconstruction held in Poland in May 2023 alongside former Minister Won and was classified as a thematic stock for Ukraine’s reconstruction. The stock manipulation suspicions resurfaced as discussions about the reconstruction project coincided with the visit of former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife to Ukraine in July of the same year.
At that time, the stock price, which was in the 1,000 won range, rose to over 5,000 won afterward.
Special Investigation Team Expands Investigation and Plans Summons
The Special Investigation Team is reportedly investigating the circumstances under which Samboo Construction executives attended the Global Reconstruction Forum in Ukraine with former Minister Won during the discussions on the reconstruction project in May 2023.
On the 3rd, the team completed the search and seizure related to the Samboo Construction case and stated that it is currently summoning the company's representatives, mentioning that there are several key suspects related to the case who have been banned from leaving the country.
The Special Investigation Team clarified that there has been no contact or consultation with Mrs. Kim's side regarding the summons investigation, but explained, "We will comprehensively review the progress of the investigation, various situations, factual circumstances, and legal considerations and determine an appropriate time for the summons."
The Special Investigation Team has already prohibited the departure of Cho Sung-ok, the former chairman of Samboo Construction, and Lee Eung-geon, the former CEO of Samboo Construction.
Image source: Kim Geon-hee (left), Won Hee-ryong (right) / News1, The Special Investigation Team led by Min Jung-ki, investigating allegations against Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, finishes a search and seizure operation at the Samboo Construction headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of July 3, 2025. They are loading boxes containing seized items into a vehicle. 2025.7.3 / News1, The Special Investigation Team led by Min Jung-ki, investigating allegations against Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, moves from the Samboo Construction headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, after completing a search and seizure operation on July 3, 2025. (Joint coverage) 2025.7.3 / News1
