Amid an expanding probe into South Korea’s martial law crisis, Kim Keon Hee — wife of ousted ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol — has been formally charged with bribery and other offences, a special investigation team said on Friday, adding to the growing list of controversies tied to the once-powerful couple.
Both Yoon and Kim have been arrested and are in jail, with Yoon already undergoing trial on charges that include insurrection following his ouster in April over a botched bid to impose martial law in December.
The couple are under separate investigations by special prosecutors appointed after Yoon’s removal from office and President Lee Jae Myung took office.
Multiple Charges
It is the first time that a former first lady has been indicted in South Korea.
The charges against Kim, which are punishable by years in prison if she is found guilty, range from stock fraud to bribery that have implicated business owners, religious figures and a political power broker.
The charges against her include whether she broke the law by wearing a luxury Van Cleef pendant reportedly priced more than 60 million won ($43,200) on the first couple’s trip to the NATO summit in 2022. The item was not listed in the Yoons’ financial disclosure as required by law, according to the charge.
She is also accused of receiving two Chanel bags together valued at 20 million won and a diamond necklace from a religious group as a bribe in return for influence favourable to business interests it was pursuing.
An artwork valued at several million dollars and tens of thousands of dollars in cash seized by the special prosecutor’s team are also linked to her, according to media reports that have extensively covered her travails.
Earlier in August, Kim apologised for causing concern but did not answer questions from reporters about the allegations against her.
“I am truly sorry that a nobody like myself has caused concern for everyone in the country,” Kim said.
Numerous High-Profile Scandals
The former first lady has been the subject of numerous high-profile scandals, some dating back more than 15 years, which overshadowed Yoon’s turbulent presidency and inflicted political damage on him and his conservative party.
Kim’s lawyers have denied the allegations against her and said news reports about some of the gifts she allegedly received were groundless speculation.
Special prosecutors investigating the country’s martial law crisis also indicted on Friday former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who was appointed by Yoon on charges of abetting insurrection and committing perjury, a prosecution spokesperson said.
(With inputs from Reuters)
