Overview
- The 180-day investigation ended with prosecutors alleging the former first lady used her status to influence appointments and policy, calling it a modern-day sale of public offices.
- Kim was arrested and indicted on charges including Deutsch Motors stock manipulation with alleged gains of 810 million won, receipt of free opinion polls worth about 270 million won, and luxury gifts tied to the Unification Church worth about 80 million won.
- Prosecutors said she also accepted additional gifts valued at roughly 370 million won, including art and jewelry, in exchange for help with government jobs and political nominations.
- The team sought a 15-year prison term and a 2 billion won seizure in court filings; Kim has denied wrongdoing.
- Investigators detained 20 people and indicted 66, including ousted former president Yoon Suk Yeol, Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, Rep. Kweon Song-dong, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon and his wife, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, while unresolved lines were transferred to police after some allegations lacked proof.