Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is under investigation for influencing presidential office appointments. The special counsel cited evidence suggesting she guided hiring decisions after the 2022 election.
Min Joong-ki’s team revealed that a shaman involved in Kim Keon-hee’s bribery case requested eight appointments through her shortly after the election. Two of the candidates later worked at the presidential office. Another became a consul general in September 2022. Investigators believe Kim Keon-hee may have influenced these appointments.
Kim Keon-hee was indicted in August on charges including violations of the Capital Market Act, the Political Funds Act, and bribery mediation. She allegedly worked with a BMW dealer and an associate to manipulate stock prices, earning 810 million won in illegal profits between 2010 and 2012.
The indictment also accused her of receiving 270 million won in opinion polls with her husband from a power broker. The funds were linked to securing a parliamentary nomination for a former People Power Party lawmaker. She also allegedly accepted luxury gifts worth 80 million won from the Unification Church via a shaman in 2022.
Seohee Construction officials gave Kim Keon-hee a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, seeking a government job for the chairman’s son-in-law. That individual became the chief of staff for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo three months later.
Legal experts say proving liability may be difficult. Kim Keon-hee held no public office and lacked authority over appointments. South Korean law applies bribery charges mainly to public officials who exchange favors for gain.
Earlier, prosecutors dropped charges over a luxury handbag gift from a Korean American pastor. The anti-graft law does not cover spouses of public officials.
Kim Keon-hee’s case raises public debate over the limits of influence by presidential spouses. Observers warn it could affect transparency and accountability in government appointments.
