Ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol and former First Lady Kim Keon-hee of South Korea step off a plane at London Stansted Airport, UK, in November 2024. Image Credit: Henry Nicholls/AFP via Al Jazeera
(The Post News) – Former First Lady Kim Keon-hee was indicted and taken into custody on bribery charges after South Korea’s martial law crisis probe into her husband, ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, revealed her alleged involvement in illegal financial dealings.
South Korean investigators and prosecutors allege that Kim accepted bribes totalling 80 million won, including two luxury designer handbags, and manipulated stocks to earn 810 million won (S$748,000). A highly controversial figure, she has been involved in numerous high-profile scandals over the past 15 years, some predating her husband’s presidency in 2012.
Compared to Lady Macbeth by Al Jazeera, Kim is known for being allegedly manipulative and corrupt. She publicly apologised to South Korean media in 2021 after it was revealed she had falsified her academic credentials while applying for teaching positions. In November 2022, she was again accused of corruption after being secretly recorded accepting a Christian Dior handbag, allegedly to gain influence with the president.
These scandals frequently overshadowed her husband’s political career. During his presidency, President Yoon faced mounting criticism for allegedly abetting corruption. The situation escalated in December 2024, when Yoon shocked the nation by declaring martial law. The sudden decision, made without any apparent threat, sparked nationwide protests and political turmoil, as the law restricted civil liberties and gave the military executive control.
Critics accused him of insurrection and abusing executive power to protect himself and his inner circle, ultimately leading to his impeachment and removal from office. In a snap election, Lee Jae-myung was elected South Korea’s president in June 2025, pledging to unite the country after conservatives and democrats were left deeply divided in the aftermath of the protests.
Yoon is currently detained and undergoing trial, while Kim is expected to face trial soon. In a statement conveyed by her legal team, Kim said she would make “no excuses,” face the trial, and “endure this time.”. If found guilty, she could face several years in prison.
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