Breaking News: Kim Ok-suk's home raided over Roh Tae-woo's illicit funds... emerged in divorce lawsuit between Noh So-young and Choi Tae-won

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office has launched a search warrant at the home of Kim Ok-sook, the widow of former President Lee Myung-bak, related to suspicions of hidden funds for Lee and his family. According to sources from the Chosun Ilbo, investigators from the Criminal Income and Asset Investigation Division (led by So-jiung Park) are currently gathering evidence at Kim's residence in Seoul's Yeonhee-dong and at various institutions tied to Lee Myung-bak, including the Korea Institute for International Cultural Exchange, the East Asia Culture Foundation, and the Lee Myung-bak Center.

The suspicions surrounding hidden funds for Lee Myung-bak's family emerged during the divorce proceedings between Lee and his ex-wife, Lee So-ang, of the Art Center Nabi. It was revealed that Kim Ok-sook had provided the court with a memo, widely known as the "Kim Ok-sook memo," which reportedly detailed financial transactions amounting to 904 billion won.

Lee Myung-bak's side claimed that he had given 300 billion won to Lee So-ang's father, Lee Jong-un, who was the chairman of Seongyeong Group at the time. In response, Lee So-ang's side provided six letters of promise, amounting to 50 billion won each, from Lee Jong-un's Seongyeong Group.

However, Lee So-ang's side has consistently denied the claim that the 300 billion won was actually transferred. In September 2024, a petition was filed with Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office accusing Lee So-ang, Lee Myung-bak, Kim Ok-sook, and Lee Jong-un of hiding funds and tax evasion. In addition, in October 2024, the 5·18 Memorial Foundation and other organizations filed charges against Kim Ok-sook, Lee Myung-bak, and Lee Jong-un for alleged violations of the Criminal Income and Asset Investigation Act, as well as suspicions of using insurance money as hidden funds.

The 904 billion won mentioned in the Kim Ok-sook memo is believed to be part of the 1266 billion won worth of hidden funds alleged to have been concealed by Lee Myung-bak's family. The criminal income and asset investigation division has since been working to obtain financial account records and track the flow of funds for the Lee Myung-bak family.