Why are Cambodia, Mongolia involved in probes into ex-president and wife?

Then-first lady Kim Keon Hee, left, holds a Cambodian child recovering from heart surgery during a meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, in this Jan. 31, 2023 photo. Courtesy of the presidential office

Two separate investigations by special counsels — one into alleged bribery involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee, and another into a suspected conspiracy of former President Yoon Suk Yeol — have taken an unexpected turn, drawing Cambodia and Mongolia into the heart of the inquiries.

The two countries have emerged as focal points in the investigations, as prosecutors examine whether a religious group sought the first lady's influence on development funds for Cambodia and whether South Korean military intelligence attempted to contact the North Korean Embassy in Mongolia to induce the North into actions that could be used to justify declaring martial law.

The office of Heerim Architects & Planners is seen in Gangdong District, Seoul, Monday. The firm had previously sponsored events hosted by Covana Contents, a company founded by former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Yonhap

Trip to Phnom Penh

The team, led by special counsel Min Jung-ki, is investigating allegations that Yun Young-ho, a senior Unification Church official, offered expensive gifts for the former first lady via a spiritual adviser named Jeon Seong-bae. These gifts included a diamond necklace worth 60 million won ($43,900) and two Chanel handbags valued at 10 million won each.

Receipts and related documents were discovered inside the church’s main offices, which prosecutors view as evidence of a coordinated lobbying effort. Investigators are probing whether these gifts were offered in exchange for support on various affairs the church was involved in, such as a large-scale development project in Cambodia, acquisition of the YTN news channel and a bid to establish a United Nations office in South Korea.

In June 2022, the Korean government doubled the cap on its Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) loans to Cambodia, from $700 million to $1.5 billion. Five months later, then-President Yoon and Kim visited Phnom Penh, pledging to increase economic cooperation with ASEAN and countries along the Mekong River. Prosecutors are investigating whether this policy change was influenced by lobbying efforts.

The special counsel has also examined the financial structure of the projects, suspecting a “payback” arrangement involving donations and subsequent favors in the form of business deals. Investigators have uncovered messages between key figures suggesting coordinated efforts to secure Cambodian development deals using Korea’s official development assistance funds. One such message, sent by a former Unification Church official to an associate of the presidential couple, read: “Let’s create a big picture together.”

The parties also discussed introducing executives from Heerim Architects & Planners, who later won contracts in Phnom Penh. Special prosecutors are now examining whether Deutsch Financial, a firm once associated with Kim, played a role in the financing process.

Maj. Gen. Kim Yong-dae, former commander of the Army drone operations unit, arrives at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho District, July 17, to face questioning by the special counsel investigating an alleged martial law conspiracy. Yonhap

Mongolian connection

Separately, another special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok is probing whether South Korea’s military intelligence service tried to contact North Korean officials at their embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This incident occurred just days before the martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024.

Two South Korean military intelligence officers were detained by Mongolian authorities for attempting to secretly contact the North Korean Embassy there via local intermediaries. Internal South Korean military intelligence documents also indicated that their intended point of contact was the North Korean Embassy.

Special counsel investigators are reviewing whether the attempted contact was an effort to conspire with North Korea to induce a response which could justify emergency martial law in South Korea. The counsel team is evaluating whether these actions constitute an offense under Article 92 of Korea’s Criminal Act, which prohibits collaboration with foreign entities with the intent of inciting armed conflict.

If investigators can prove intent to provoke military action in coordination with a foreign state, those involved could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty — penalties that apply under South Korean law even to preparatory acts.

Documents from Noh Sang-won, a former intelligence chief who is currently on trial, contain notes such as “provoke attack at NLL,” suggesting a deliberate strategy to trigger confrontation near the maritime border.

Min's team is scheduled to question the former first lady on Aug. 6, while Cho's team is working to trace the chain of command behind the Mongolia operation.