Kim Keon-hee took more than $200,000 in bribes and illegally intervened in state affairs, South Korean prosecutors say.By News AgenciesPublished On 29 Dec 202529 Dec 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareA special prosecutor in South Korea has accused the wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol of interfering in state affairs in return for expensive valuables and money.Min Jung-ki’s comments on Monday came a day after he wrapped up a yearlong investigation into Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law and other scandals related to the once-powerful couple.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThe prosecution team earlier this month sought a 15-year prison sentence for former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who is under detention and currently on trial for suspected acceptance of bribes for mediation and other charges.Kim has denied any wrongdoing.A lower court ruling on Kim is expected on January 28.Min said Kim “took advantage of the status of the president’s spouse to receive money and expensive valuables, and has been widely involved in various personnel appointments and nominations”.He said South Korea’s institutions were “severely undermined by abuses of power” by Kim. Meanwhile, his team alleged that bribes from businesses and politicians received by Kim totalled up to 377.25 million won ($263,000).Kim’s lawyers slammed the prosecutor’s findings.“Investigations do not end because one says so, but are eventually completed with evidence in court,” the lawyers said in a statement on Monday.They said they would work “to ensure that procedural legitimacy and defense rights are thoroughly guaranteed so that facts are not exaggerated or distorted into political framing”.The prosecution team has also indicted Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, now on trial, after the religious group was suspected of giving Kim valuables, including two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, as part of its efforts to win influence. Advertisement Han has denied that she directed her church to bribe Kim.Kim also allegedly received luxury jewellery, a painting by famed South Korean minimalist painter Lee Ufan, a Dior handbag and a wristwatch, according to the special prosecutor’s team.Former President Yoon denied that he was aware of these transactions when pressed by investigators, “a …
