South Korea: Former President Yoon already on trial, ex-First Lady Kim indicted in bribery case

A special prosecution team announced Friday that Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, had been charged with bribery and other offences. This comes as the investigation into the country’s martial law crises and scandals involving the once-powerful couple continues to expand.

Both Yoon and Kim have been detained and are in jail, with Yoon already on trial for insurrection following his ouster in April over a failed attempt to institute martial law in December.

The couple are being investigated separately by special prosecutors formed after Yoon was removed from office and President Lee Jae Myung took office.

This is the first time a former first lady has been indicted in South Korea.

The charges against Kim, which are punishable by years in prison if she is found guilty, range from stock fraud to bribery that have implicated business owners, religious figures and a political power broker.

The former first lady has been the subject of numerous high-profile scandals, some dating back more than 15 years, which overshadowed Yoon’s turbulent presidency and inflicted political damage on him and his conservative party.

Kim’s lawyers have denied the allegations against her and said news reports about some of the gifts she allegedly received were groundless speculation.

Special prosecutors investigating the country’s martial law crisis also indicted on Friday former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who was appointed by Yoon on charges of abetting insurrection and committing perjury, a prosecution spokesperson said.