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South Korea's Former First Lady Accused of Accepting $200,000 in Bribes

Published December 29, 2025, 09:22
South Korea's Former First Lady Accused of Accepting $200,000 in Bribes

South Korea's former first lady, Kim Gon-hee, has been indicted on charges of accepting bribes worth over $200,000 in the form of luxury goods, including artwork, jewelry, and handbags, as well as meddling in state affairs. The wife of ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol has been in custody since August and faces charges of stock manipulation, passive corruption, and election law violations. Prosecutors argue that Ms. Kim “seriously shook South Korean institutions” through her abuse of power, illegally involving herself in state matters. Specifically, she is accused of receiving bribes totaling 377.25 million won ($223,000) from businesspeople and politicians, including gifts from the leader of the Unification Church (Moon cult). These gifts include Chanel bags, a Graff necklace, paintings, a Dior bag, and a watch-jewelry piece. Former President Yoon denied knowledge of the transactions when questioned, a denial prosecutors “find difficult to accept.” The prosecution has requested a 15-year prison sentence and a fine of $1.4 million for Ms. Kim, believing she acted “above the law” and collaborated with a religious organization, violating the separation of church and state enshrined in the country's constitution. She denies all charges, calling them unjust. This case comes amid a period of political turmoil in South Korea, as former President Yoon declared martial law in 2024 (though it lasted only a few hours) and was later impeached for rebellion. It is the first time in the country's history that both a former president and his wife have been detained for separate criminal cases. The verdict in Ms. Kim's case is expected on January 28th.

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