S Korea’s ex-first lady accused of taking bribes, meddling in state affairs

Kim Keon-hee took more than $200,000 in bribes and illegally intervened in state affairs, South Korean prosecutors say.Published On 29 Dec 2025A 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 itemslist 1 of 4North Korea’s Kim oversees test launch of long-range cruise missileslist 2 of 4N Korea, Russia bound in ‘blood’ of war, Kim tells Putin in New Year notelist 3 of 4Japan gov’t greenlights record $58bn defence budget amid regional tensionlist 4 of 4North Korea’s Kim Jong Un pushes more missile production as ‘war deterrent’end 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.