Imprisoned in solitude: Arrest for bribery of South Korea's previous first lady
In a historic turn of events, South Korea is currently grappling with significant legal challenges involving the former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol
Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea's former president, is detained at a separate facility due to his attempt to impose martial law on December 3. He is currently standing trial on criminal charges, following his formal removal from office in April. The constitutional court ruled that he had violated the basic principles of a democratic state by attempting to impose military rule and deploying troops to storm the parliament during a budgetary stand-off with left-wing parties.
Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee
Kim Keon Hee, the former first lady, is facing charges of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, election meddling, and bribery. Specifically, she is accused of accepting high-end items as bribes, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, which she wore to a NATO summit in Madrid in 2022. Prosecutors also raided the headquarters of Yoon Suk Yeol's People Power Party (PPP) following these allegations.
Kim Keon Hee is also accused of manipulating the share price of a local BMW dealership and receiving luxury items from a shaman with ties to South Korea's controversial Unification Church. She has maintained a largely silent stance during her interrogations, often responding with "I don't know" or "I don't remember."
A Unique Situation
This is the first time in South Korea's democratic history that a former president and his wife have been detained at the same time. Mr Yoon is refusing to submit himself for questioning by a special counsel appointed by President Lee Jae Myung. The downfall of the former first couple illustrates the dizzying changes in South Korean politics since Yoon's attempt to impose martial law.
Pardons and Trials
Earlier this week, President Lee's justice minister announced that the president was pardoning dozens of political figures ahead of Korea's independence anniversary. Among those receiving pardons were left-wing firebrand Cho Kuk, convicted of intervening in a university admissions process, and former DPK politician Yoon Mee-hyang, convicted of appropriating funds collected on behalf of Korean victims of Japanese wartime sexual slavery practices.
Mr Lee's criminal trials have been indefinitely suspended following his elevation to office.
[1] Source: Yonhap News Agency [2] Source: The Korea Herald
The former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, is standing trial on criminal charges, including attempts to impose martial law, following his removal from office. Simultaneously, his wife, Kim Keon Hee, is facing charges of stock manipulation, election meddling, and bribery, such as accepting a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace. This unique situation signifies a transformation in South Korea's general-news and crime-and-justice landscape since Yoon's attempt to impose martial law.
