South Korean politician Kim Moon-soo's endorsement of Yoon incites controversy in his quest for leadership
In the heart of Seoul, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, a significant political event unfolded on Aug. 4. The Together Forum hosted a forum, attended by Kim Moon-soo, a candidate for the People Power Party (PPP) chair.
Meanwhile, a few miles away, at the Seoul Central District Court, former President Yoon Suk Yeol faced a pretrial detention hearing. This was his second hearing, as he remains in custody, under investigation by a special prosecutor for multiple criminal charges.
Yoon Suk Yeol is accused of insurrection related to his attempted declaration of martial law and abuse of power. His trial for insurrection began in April 2025, and he was re-arrested and indicted in July 2025. Prosecutors have also conducted a historic raid on his private residence in connection to corruption and influence peddling allegations involving an intermediary and Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee.
Kim Keon Hee, the former president's wife, was arrested in August 2025 on charges including stock manipulation, corruption, and alleged meddling in parliamentary elections. Following her arrest, prosecutors raided the PPP headquarters to collect evidence related to the election meddling case against her.
Investigators suspect undue influence by Yoon and Kim on PPP's candidate selections during by-elections, potentially involving manipulated data supporting Yoon's presidential primary campaign. Kim is also linked to other corruption allegations involving luxury gifts and stock price manipulation schemes.
The investigations are led by a special prosecutor appointed under the current administration, which has faced criticism from opposition figures for alleged political persecution. The focus of the investigation is the Dec. 3 martial law plan, a controversial decision made during Yoon's presidency.
Despite leaving the PPP in May 2025, Yoon still endorsed its candidate in the snap presidential election. The current political landscape in South Korea is marked by these ongoing investigations, as both Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife are jailed for related charges, and the PPP grapples with allegations of election meddling.
Politics in South Korea remains under scrutiny, as the investigations into the People Power Party (PPP) continue. The special prosecutor's focus on policy-and-legislation within the PPP includes allegations of undue influence by former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, on the party's policy-making and candidate selections, raising concerns about general news headlines regarding election integrity.
