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2h ago

Special Counsel Targets Friday Indictment of Kim Keon Hee

The jailed former first lady has largely stayed silent through four rounds of questioning.

A justice ministry vehicle carrying jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee enters the building housing the office of special counsel Min Joong-ki's team in Seoul on Aug. 25, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee (Yonhap)
President Lee Jae Myung speaks to reporters aboard his flight from Tokyo to Washington before his pivotal summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on Aug. 24, 2025. (Yonhap)
Rep. Kweon Seong-dong (C) of the main opposition People Power Party (Yonhap)

Overview

  • Prosecutors said they plan to charge Kim as early as Friday, before her court-approved detention ends Sunday, and summoned her for another questioning session Wednesday.
  • Kim has been held since Aug. 13 and has mostly exercised her right to remain silent during interrogations, according to the special counsel’s briefing.
  • Allegations span suspected stock manipulation, intervention in candidate nominations in 2022 and 2024, and receipt of luxury gifts tied to the Unification Church in exchange for favors.
  • Shaman Jeon Seong-bae, under arrest since last week, acknowledged receiving gifts and requests from church figures but denies delivering the items to Kim.
  • Investigators cite seized messages and testimony linking church officials to political mobilization efforts, and they have summoned PPP Rep. Kweon Seong-dong as a suspect over alleged illegal funds connected to the church.