The special prosecutor's office announced on the 26th that it is scheduled to indict Kim Keon-hee on the 29th. Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, was arrested on the 12th on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act. Since Mrs. Kim's detention period is until the 31st, they intend to indict her before that date.
Special Prosecutor Oh Jeong-hee noted in a media briefing that they are still reviewing what charges to apply against Mrs. Kim.
Mrs. Kim was arrested on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act (involvement in Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation), violating the Political Funds Act (allegations of interference in the 2022 and 2024 elections), and receiving bribes in connection with the law on the aggravated punishment of specific crimes (allegations of soliciting bribes from the Unification Church through a fortune teller).
The Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation case involves former chairman Kwon Oh-soo, who was the largest shareholder and CEO of the listed company Deutsche Motors, colluding with 13 individuals, including current and former employees of securities companies, to illegally trade 15.99 million shares (worth 636 billion won) of Deutsche Motors using 157 accounts from 2009 to 2012. During the prosecution's investigation and related trials, it was revealed that six securities accounts in Mrs. Kim's name were used in the stock price manipulation. The special prosecutor's office believes that Mrs. Kim was aware of the stock price manipulation in advance.
Mrs. Kim is also suspected of helping former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun secure a nomination in the Changwon district during the 2022 by-election. The special prosecutor's office suspects that the former president and his wife received free opinion polls worth approximately 318 million won related to the presidential election from Myung-tae Kyun and former lawmaker Kim Young-sun during the 2022 election process.
Additionally, Mrs. Kim is suspected of asking former lawmaker Kim to yield his constituency to former prosecutor Kim Sang-min in last year's general election and to support him, as well as receiving two 'Chanel' bags worth around 10 million won and a 'Van Cleef & Arpels' necklace and 'Graph' necklace worth around 60 million won through fortune teller Jeon Sung-bae between April and July 2022, to help resolve issues concerning the Unification Church.
The special prosecutor's office is currently investigating former deputy minister Yoon Young-ho, who is suspected of having sought favors from Jeon. The special prosecutor's office indicted former deputy minister Yoon on the 18th.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor's office plans to summon and interrogate People Power Party lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong at 10 a.m. on the 27th regarding allegations related to the Unification Church. The special prosecutor's office believes that lawmaker Kweon received illegal political funds from a former executive of the Unification Church.
There are also allegations that Jeon and former deputy minister Yoon attempted to bring many Unification Church members into the People Power Party ahead of the party convention in January 2023 to make Kweon the party leader.
Lawmaker Kweon stated on his Facebook in the morning, "I have already experienced overcoming political oppression from the Moon Jae-in administration," and noted that he will also overcome the targeted purge attempts by the Lee Jae-myung administration.