S Korea’s ex-first lady accused of taking bribes, meddling in state affairs

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Kim Keon-hee took much than $200,000 successful bribes and illegally intervened successful authorities affairs, South Korean prosecutors say.

Published On 29 Dec 2025

A peculiar authoritative successful South Korea has accused the woman of erstwhile President Yoon ‍Suk-yeol of interfering ‍in authorities affairs successful instrumentality for costly valuables and money.

Min Jung-ki’s comments connected Monday came a time aft helium wrapped up a yearlong probe into Yoon’s little imposition of martial instrumentality and different scandals related to the once-powerful couple.

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The prosecution squad earlier this period sought ​a 15-year situation condemnation for erstwhile First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who ‍is nether detention and presently connected proceedings for suspected acceptance of bribes for mediation and different charges.

Kim has denied immoderate wrongdoing.

A little tribunal ruling connected Kim is expected connected January 28.

Min said Kim “took ⁠advantage of the presumption of the president’s spouse to person wealth and costly valuables, and has been wide progressive successful assorted unit appointments and nominations”.

He said South Korea’s institutions were “severely undermined by abuses of power” by Kim. Meanwhile, his squad alleged that bribes from businesses and politicians received by Kim totalled up to 377.25 cardinal won ($263,000).

Kim’s lawyers slammed the prosecutor’s findings.

“Investigations bash not extremity due to the fact that 1 says so, but are yet completed with grounds successful ​court,” the lawyers said successful a connection connected Monday.

They said ‌they would enactment “to guarantee that procedural legitimacy and defence rights are thoroughly guaranteed truthful that facts are not exaggerated oregon distorted into governmental framing”.

The prosecution squad has besides indicted Unification Church person Han Hak-ja, present connected ‌trial, aft the spiritual radical was suspected of giving Kim valuables, including 2 Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, arsenic portion ‌of its efforts to triumph influence.

Han has denied ⁠that she directed her religion to bribe Kim.

Kim besides allegedly received luxury jewellery, a coating by famed South Korean minimalist creator Lee Ufan, a Dior handbag and a wristwatch, according to the peculiar prosecutor’s team.

Former President Yoon denied that helium was alert of these transactions erstwhile pressed by investigators, “a assertion that galore find hard to accept”, said adjunct peculiar authoritative Kim Hyung-geun.

“Various radical who did not person a communal denominator with each different visited Kim Keon-hee, not the president, and asked for what they wanted, and gave wealth ‌and goods,” the adjunct peculiar authoritative said.

“As a result, their petition was realised.”

Yoon, who was removed from bureau pursuing his martial instrumentality bid, is connected proceedings for suspected masterminding of an insurrection, a complaint that could ‍mean a beingness condemnation oregon adjacent the decease penalty.

He has denied the charges.

A little tribunal ruling connected Yoon is expected aboriginal successful 2026.

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