South Korea’s Former First Lady Indicted for Bribery

SEOUL — Kim Keon Hee, the wife of ousted South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, has been formally indicted on bribery and related charges, a special prosecution team announced Friday. The move comes amid an expanding investigation into the country’s martial law crisis and scandals surrounding the once-powerful couple.

Both Yoon and Kim are currently in custody. Yoon is already on trial for charges including insurrection, following his April removal from office after a failed attempt to impose martial law in December.

Kim faces charges ranging from stock fraud to bribery, with alleged involvement of business leaders, religious figures, and a political broker. If convicted, she could face a prison sentence of several years.

In a statement released through her lawyers, Kim issued an apology but did not directly address the accusations:

“Just as moonlight shines brightly in the darkest night, I too will endure this time, looking to my truth and heart,” she said.

Her lawyers have denied wrongdoing, dismissing reports of luxury gifts as “groundless speculation.”

The indictment marks a dramatic fall from grace for Kim, a wealthy businesswoman who had long been viewed as a driving force in her husband’s political career. Her controversies, some dating back more than 15 years, often overshadowed Yoon’s turbulent presidency and damaged his conservative party.

The widening probe has also ensnared former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was indicted Friday on charges of abetting insurrection and perjury. Prosecutors allege Han failed to prevent Yoon’s unlawful martial law order despite holding the authority to intervene.

Han, a veteran technocrat who briefly served as acting president after Yoon’s impeachment, was later impeached himself for allegedly aiding Yoon. Though the Constitutional Court reinstated him, Han resigned to contest the June presidential election — a bid that collapsed amid divisions within the conservative bloc.