Kim Keon-hee, the wife of ousted former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol, yesterday appeared in court at the start of her corruption trial, part of a criminal probe that has ensnared high-profile political and religious figures.
It is the first time an ex-first lady has faced trial.
Kim, who faces charges including bribery and stock manipulation, arrived at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul wearing a black suit, making her first public appearance since her arrest last month on a range of charges, including stock manipulation and corruption.
Photo: EPA
She appeared in person at the Seoul Central District Court, escorted by guards. Dressed in a dark suit with her hair tied back, the former first lady wore a badge on her chest bearing her inmate number: 4398.
The trial began with the court confirming her identity and her occupation, to which she replied briefly: “I am unemployed.”
She also gave her date of birth and declined to request a jury trial.
A prosecutor outlined charges against Kim, including allegations of stock manipulation, contravening political fundraising laws by asking a power broker to carry out free opinion polling and accepting bribes from South Korea’s Unification Church.
Kim’s lawyers denied all the charges and said the prosecutors had not shared details of the evidence they had obtained.
If convicted on any of the charges, Kim faces penalties ranging from fines to up to five years in prison.
She is also accused of interfering in the nomination process for lawmakers in Yoon’s party, contravening election laws.
Legal experts said the trial could see the former presidential couple summoned together over their alleged role in influencing parliamentary elections.
As president, Yoon vetoed three special investigation bills passed by the opposition-controlled parliament that sought to probe the allegations against Kim, with the last veto issued in late November last year. A week later, he declared martial law.
He is on trial separately for insurrection and has been held in custody since July.
A scandal in 2022 over a Dior bag she was seen accepting from a pastor, which was filmed by a hidden video camera, came to overshadow her husband’s presidency until his shock martial law declaration in December last year led to his removal from office.
On Tuesday, Hak-ja Han, the leader of South Korea’s Unification Church, was jailed on allegations that she directed her organization to bribe Kim for political favors.
Prosecutors said the church gave Kim two Chanel bags, a Graff necklace and a Korean ginseng gift set, which were estimated to be worth about 80 million won (US$57,161) in total.
Kim’s lawyer said she did not receive any of those gifts.
Han has denied the allegations, calling them “false information.”
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