Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korea’s ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, appeared before a special prosecutor on Wednesday for questioning over allegations of stock manipulation, bribery, and interference in political nominations.
The investigation is one of three special prosecutor-led probes approved under the new liberal administration of President Lee Jae Myung, following Yoon’s removal from office in April and his re-arrest last month. Yoon is currently facing trial on charges including rebellion, stemming from his brief and controversial imposition of martial law in December.
Kim, who arrived at the prosecutor’s office under heavy police presence, said she would “sincerely cooperate” with the investigation. “I apologize for causing concern to the people, even though I am someone insignificant,” she told reporters before declining to answer specific questions.
The allegations against Kim include suspected involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme and the alleged receipt of luxury gifts, including a necklace, via a fortuneteller acting as an intermediary for a Unification Church official seeking business favors.
She and Yoon are also accused of attempting to sway nominations within the conservative People Power Party in 2022, allegedly at the request of Myung Tae-kyun, a pollster and political broker who previously supported Yoon's campaign with free surveys.
Yoon, who had rejected prior calls to investigate his wife while in office, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Last week, he reportedly resisted questioning over his wife by refusing to cooperate with investigators in prison. Authorities said he removed his prison uniform and lay on the floor, prompting them to abandon their attempt to execute the warrant. Talks are ongoing with his legal team to schedule questioning.
Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law on December 3 during a standoff with opposition lawmakers was widely criticized and lasted only hours. He was impeached on December 14 after lawmakers managed to override the blockade by armed soldiers, and his removal was finalized by the Constitutional Court in April.
Following President Lee’s election victory in June, his administration launched three special probes targeting Yoon’s presidency: the martial law incident, corruption allegations involving Kim, and the 2023 drowning death of a marine during a flood rescue, which the current government alleges was covered up by Yoon’s officials.
Yoon had been released from prison in March after a court overturned an earlier arrest, but was re-arrested in July after prosecutors argued he posed a risk of destroying evidence.
