Seoul – Kim Keon‑hee, the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, is under investigation for possible bribery and influence‑peddling.
A special counsel team led by Min Joong‑ki said evidence shows Kim may have helped a shaman involved in her own bribery case push eight people into roles at the presidential office after the 2022 election. Two of those nominees were confirmed to have worked in the office, while a third was named Consul General in September 2022.
Investigators believe Kim received a list of the eight candidates and could have used her personal connections to sway hiring decisions. The case also ties Kim to a broader bribery scheme that involved a former BMW dealer, a political consultant and a self‑proclaimed “power broker.” The allegations claim she received over 810 million won (about $582,000) in illegal gains from stock‑price manipulation between 2010 and 2012 and paid 270 million won in free opinion polls to help secure a parliamentary seat for a People Power Party member.
Other accusations include luxury gifts from the Unification Church. A shaman is said to have delivered an 80 million won (about $57,500) gift in 2022 in exchange for business favors. Before she was charged, officials at Seohee Construction handed a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace to Kim—readily linked to a government job for the company’s chairman’s son‑in‑law, who later became chief of staff for former Prime Minister Han Duck‑soo.
Kim was held in custody in August on charges of violating the Capital Market Act, the Political Funds Act, and the law on bribery for mediation. She is the first spouse of a former president to face trial while in custody.
Legal experts warn that proving her liability could be tough. She never held public office and did not have official hiring authority. South Korea’s anti‑graft laws generally penalize public officials, not their spouses. In October, prosecutors dropped a separate case involving a luxury handbag she received from a Korean‑American pastor, citing the same legal loophole.
The investigation is still ongoing, and prosecutors continue to build evidence against Kim. The fallout could reshape the perception of political influence in South Korea and may prompt lawmakers to close loopholes that protect the families of public officials.
Source: ianslive
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