Seoul: A special counsel team announced on Monday its intention to indict former first lady Kim Keon Hee on charges of corruption and bribery by the end of the week. Kim, the wife of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been in detention since August 13 and was recently brought to special counsel Min Joong-ki's office for further questioning.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim has mostly exercised her right to remain silent during the questioning sessions. Assistant special counsel Park Sang-jin conveyed this information at a press briefing. An official from the special counsel's team stated that Kim's indictment must occur on or before Sunday, which marks the end of her court-approved detention period. The team is contemplating an indictment as early as Friday, depending on further developments.
Kim is facing allegations related to stock manipulation schemes, interference in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and the 2024 general elections, and receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church through a shaman for business favors. The shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, was arrested last week and questioned on the same day.
This was the first round of questioning for Jeon since his arrest, and the fourth for Kim. Reports indicate that Kim has remained mostly silent during previous sessions. Jeon is suspected of receiving a diamond necklace and Chanel bags from the Unification Church in 2022, which he allegedly delivered to Kim along with requests for support in various church projects. These requests included development projects in Cambodia, the acquisition of broadcaster YTN, and hosting a United Nations office in South Korea.
Jeon has admitted to receiving the gifts and requests but has denied passing them on to Kim. During the questioning on Monday, he again denied the allegations against him.