Ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee indicted over corruption charges

Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, Aug. 12, to attend a hearing on her arrest warrant. Yonhap

A special counsel team on Friday indicted Kim Keon Hee, wife of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, on charges of political fund violations, stock manipulation and bribery.

This is the first time in Korea’s history that the spouse of a former president has been indicted. She also became the first presidential spouse to be arrested when she was put behind bars on Aug. 12.

Following Friday’s decision, both Yoon and Kim are set to face trial. Yoon was already arrested and indicted over his insurrection charges in connection with his martial law imposition in December 2024.

According to the probe team, Kim faces three major charges.

First, she allegedly took part in a stock manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors between 2010 and 2012, earning illicit profits of 810 million won ($582,552). Second, between 2021 and 2022, she and Yoon allegedly had political broker Myung Tae-gyun conduct opinion polls without paying fees worth 2.7 billion won. Finally, she allegedly accepted luxury goods, including a diamond necklace and Chanel handbags, valued at around 800 million won, from the Unification Church through shaman Jeon Seong-bae in exchange for aiding the church's businesses.

The special counsel also sought a court order for Kim to preserve assets worth 10.3 billion won, which amounts to the proceeds obtained through her alleged offenses. Prosecutors said they will continue to investigate other allegations, including additional bribery suspicions.

Kim was arrested on Aug. 12 after a court issued the arrest warrant, citing the risk of evidence destruction. Since then, she has been summoned five times for questioning, but has largely exercised her right to remain silent. Nevertheless, investigators said they had secured evidence using transaction records, communications and testimony from other figures linked to the allegations.

The investigation has also widened to examine possible corruption ties between the Unification Church and the then-ruling People Power Party, with suspicions that Kim played a role in establishing the links.

A prison vehicle carrying former first lady Kim Keon Hee enters the building housing special counsel Min Joong-ki’s office in Jongno District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

In a statement released after her indictment, Kim expressed remorse but insisted that she was innocent.

“I deeply apologize for causing concern to the people. I will not avoid the path before me and will stand trial quietly,” she said. “I will not make excuses under any circumstances. Just as the moon shines brightest on the darkest night, I will endure this time while holding on to my truth.”

She added that she would faithfully attend future hearings and thanked prosecutors, correctional officers and her lawyers for their efforts.

The case marks a dramatic reversal for Kim. During the presidency of her husband, who was a former prosecutor himself, she faced numerous allegations yet largely avoided scrutiny from prosecutors. She repeatedly declined to appear for questioning, drawing accusations of receiving “imperial treatment” from the prosecution. In 2022, prosecutors dropped the Deutsch Motors and luxury handbag cases, citing insufficient evidence and a lack of legal grounds.

During Yoon's presidency, Kim was known in political circles as “V0,” while a president is often called "V," amid belief that she wielded more influence than her husband. V, a term commonly used unofficially in political circles for high ranking officials, refers to VIP.

Legal experts have noted that the indictment enables prosecutors to detain Kim while they investigate other pending allegations, including the suspected change of an expressway route between Seoul and Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, in her favor, and additional stock-rigging cases. Additional charges could be added as the probe unfolds.