South Korea's presidential residence contract scandal

Auditor Yoon Byung‑ho was detained on July 20 after a special prosecutor team presented evidence that he had recorded hostile remarks about President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s opposition in his notebook. Prosecutors allege Yoon abused his authority to influence the audit of the presidential residence relocation and to conceal irregularities.

Investigators are also examining whether first‑lady Kim Keon‑hee was involved in awarding the renovation contract for the presidential residence to interior‑design firm 21g. The probe alleges the firm received the contract through personal connections, was paid far above budget – about 41 billion won versus an authorized 28 billion – and that Kim received luxury goods worth roughly 10 million won. The special prosecutor team has summoned Kim for questioning and continues to investigate possible illegal budget reallocation and suppression of the audit process.

The scandal ties together allegations of political favoritism, misuse of public funds and attempts to mask the findings of the audit, raising concerns about the transparency of the Yoon administration’s handling of the presidential residence project.