A special prosecution team announced on Friday that Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korea’s ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been indicted on charges of bribery and other offenses. This indictment comes as part of a wider investigation into the country’s martial law crisis and a number of scandals involving the once-powerful couple.
Both Yoon and Kim have been arrested and are currently in jail. Yoon is already on trial for charges that include insurrection following his removal from office in April, which was prompted by a failed attempt to impose martial law in December. The couple is now facing separate investigations by special prosecutors who were appointed after Yoon’s impeachment and since the liberal President Lee Jae Myung took office in early June.
Following her indictment, Kim issued an apology for causing concern and stated she would offer “no excuses” and face trial. In a statement released by her lawyers, Kim said, “Just as moonlight shines brightly in the darkest night, I too will endure this time, looking to my truth and heart.” The statement did not address the specific charges against her.
The charges against Kim, which could result in years in prison if she is found guilty, range from stock fraud to alleged bribery involving business owners, religious figures, and a powerful political broker. The former first lady has been at the center of numerous high-profile scandals, some dating back over 15 years, which cast a shadow over Yoon’s tumultuous presidency and politically damaged him and his conservative party. Kim’s lawyers have denied the allegations, calling news reports about some of the gifts she allegedly received “groundless speculation.”
Yoon’s surprise martial law order in December and its political fallout coincided with a dramatic fall from grace for Kim, a wealthy businesswoman who was seen as a key force behind her husband’s rise to the top office. The special prosecutors investigating the martial law crisis also indicted former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, whom Yoon appointed, on Friday. A prosecution spokesperson said Han faces charges of abetting insurrection and committing perjury.
“The defendant was the highest constitutional institution that could have stopped the president’s unconstitutional, illegitimate martial law,” said spokesperson Park Ji-young. In recent weeks, prosecutors have been questioning Han, but he has not responded to questions from reporters. The experienced technocrat, who has held senior positions under five presidents, became acting president after Yoon’s impeachment. Shortly after, Han himself was impeached for allegedly aiding Yoon in the martial law declaration. He denied this but accepted some responsibility for the ensuing crisis by failing to dissuade Yoon from the surprise move. The Constitutional Court overturned Han’s impeachment, restoring his powers to serve as leader before he resigned to run in the June election, but he ended his presidential bid due to rifts among conservatives.
