Seoul: A former head of the National Educational Commission (NEC) appeared before a special counsel team Thursday to be questioned about bribery allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee.

According to Yonhap News Agency, special counsel Min Joong-ki's team has been investigating allegations that former NEC Chairperson Lee Bae-yong was appointed to the post after gifting a golden turtle ornament to Kim. The bribery allegations surfaced following a special probe team's search of the home of former first lady Kim's mother. The search was conducted in connection with a real estate development scandal, during which investigators discovered the golden turtle weighing 10 don (37.5 grams) along with a letter Lee had written to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim.

The investigative team suspects that the turtle was given as a gift to Kim in exchange for Lee's appointment as the inaugural chief of the commission in September 2022. Lee appeared at Min's office in a wheelchair at around 9:30 a.m. and did not respond when asked by reporters whether she offered the gold turtle as a bribe.

This marked the first time Lee appeared before the special counsel. She had previously declined requests to appear for questioning on Oct. 13 and 20, citing health reasons following ankle surgery.