The special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee has sent Kim and those who provided money and valuables to trial over the so-called bribery-for-appointment allegation. The special counsel applied the charge of brokerage bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes to Kim, and said the bribery allegations involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife will be referred to the Korean National Police Agency National Office of Investigation (NOI).
On the 26th, the special counsel said in a press notice that six people, including Kim, SEOHEE CONSTRUCTION Chairman Lee Bong-gwan, former National Education Commission Chairperson Lee Bae-yong, former Chairperson Lee's secretary, a person surnamed Park, robot dog entrepreneur Seo Seong-bin, and Pastor Choi Jae-young, have been indicted.
From Mar. 15 to May 20, 2022, Kim is accused of receiving a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace worth 103.8 million won from Chairman Lee in exchange for business favors and for arranging the public appointment of his eldest son-in-law, attorney Park Seong-geun. The indictment also includes allegations that on Apr. 26 of the same year and in early June, she received a gold turtle and other items worth 2.65 million won from former Chairperson Lee in exchange for seeking appointment as National Education Commission Chairperson.
Kim is also accused of receiving a Vacheron Constantin wristwatch worth 39.9 million won on Sept. 8, 2022, from Seo along with a request to support a robot dog business. The following Feb., she allegedly received a painting by artist Lee Ufan worth 1.4 billion won from former Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Sang-min along with a request for a general election nomination, and from June 20 to Sept. 13, 2022, she allegedly accepted a Dior bag and other items totaling 5.4 million won from Pastor Choi in exchange for requests related to public officials' duties.
The special counsel said it applied the charge of brokerage bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes to Kim for the overall acceptance of these items. Chairman Lee, Seo, and Pastor Choi, identified as providers, were indicted on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
Former Chairperson Lee is accused of instructing Park in September this year to delete mobile phone messages related to Kim, and faces charges of instigating the destruction of evidence. Park is charged with destruction of evidence for carrying out the instruction. However, no separate charge was applied to former Chairperson Lee regarding the provision of the gold turtle.
The special counsel also said it will seek confiscation and forfeiture of criminal revenue obtained by Kim through the brokerage bribery.
The special counsel reviewed applying bribery charges on the premise of collusion with the former president, but did not indict Yoon this time. The special counsel said, "We have determined that additional investigation is needed into the bribery allegations involving the former presidential couple and will refer the case to the Korean National Police Agency National Office of Investigation (NOI)."
Earlier, when indicting former Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim, the special counsel specified facts alleging that the painting was provided on the premise of soliciting matters "related to the duties of Yoon Suk-yeol, the spouse of Kim Keon-hee, who was serving as president," including public appointments and election nominations. It has also been explained that because the content of the solicitation could fall within the scope of the duties of Yoon, a public official, charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and brokerage bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes could apply.
During the investigation, the special counsel also booked the former presidential couple on suspicion of bribery, but it has been noted that bribery requires proving quid pro quo in addition to job-relatedness, which posed a challenge. The special counsel appears to have determined that it needs to further examine issues necessary to assess quid pro quo—such as whether Yoon knew the content of the solicitations conveyed when Kim received money and valuables—and, considering the remaining investigation period and the investigation deadline on the 28th, will have the police determine whether to apply bribery charges after referral.