Imprisonment of South Korea's previous first lady following the issuance of a court-ordered warrant
South Korea's Former First Lady Faces Corruption Charges
South Korea's former First Lady, Kim Keon-hee, is embroiled in a high-profile legal case involving allegations of corruption and bribery. The case centers around a diamond-studded Van Cleef & Arpels pendant worth over 60 million won (approximately $43,300), which she wore during an official 2022 NATO summit trip but did not disclose in her official asset declarations.
The luxury pendant is a key piece of evidence in the accusations against Kim. Prosecutors allege that the pendant was gifted by Seohee Construction, a company seeking government favors, specifically for a personnel appointment linked to the company’s chairman’s son-in-law, who was later appointed as chief of staff to the Prime Minister. Kim denies the allegations, stating the pendant was a fake she bought 20 years ago, but prosecutors maintain it is genuine, supported by evidence from company officials who confessed gifting the item.
Kim faces charges including deception, obstruction, bribery through mediation, and violations of the Capital Markets Act and the Political Funds Act. The bribery through mediation charge is relevant because Kim, not being a public official herself, allegedly acted as a middlewoman facilitating favors in exchange for these luxury gifts. The case also involves other luxury items such as Chanel bags, a diamond necklace from Graff, a Tiffany & Co. brooch, earrings, and a Vacheron Constantin watch, some linked to the Unification Church through an intermediary shaman.
Following the investigation, Kim was arrested and detained pending trial, marking a historic moment as she and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, became the first former presidential couple in South Korean history to be jailed simultaneously on corruption charges. Yoon is also on trial on charges of insurrection, which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty, and faces charges of abuse of power, in addition to insurrection.
The trial of Yoon Suk Yeol is ongoing. No immediate comment was made by Kim's lawyers regarding the latest developments in the case. Yoon has denied wrongdoing and refused to attend trial hearings or be questioned by prosecutors. The charges against Kim have implicated business owners, religious figures, and a political power broker. The court accepted an argument regarding the risk of destroying evidence in the case of Kim Keon Hee.
This luxury pendant case exemplifies the intertwining of high society symbols with legal accountability in South Korea’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts. Kim claims the luxury Van Cleef pendant she wore was a fake bought 20 years ago in Hong Kong. The arrest warrant for Kim was issued by a court in South Korea.
[1] Korea JoongAng Daily [2] The Korea Herald [3] The Chosun Ilbo [4] Yonhap News Agency [5] The Hankyoreh
- The politics of South Korea are under scrutiny, as the former First Lady, Kim Keon-hee, faces a range of charges, including deception and violations of the Capital Markets Act and the Political Funds Act, in a high-profile case involving allegations of corruption and bribery.
- The unfolding trial of the former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, is a major piece of policy-and-legislation news, highlighting crime-and-justice issues and the general-news implications of corruption charges within the country's political circle.
