Wife of S. Korea's ex-president Yoon indicted on charge of receiving bribes for influence peddling

SEOUL -- Kim Keon-hee, wife of former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, was indicted on a charge of receiving bribes for influence peddling relevant to personnel appointments, the special counsel team said Friday.

The team of independent counsel Min Joong-ki, leading an investigation into corruption allegations involving Yoon and his wife, said in a statement that Kim violated the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

Kim was accused of accepting luxury jewelry worth 103.8 million won ($71,860) from a businessman from March to May in 2022 in exchange for providing business favors and the appointment of his son-in-law to a position in the government.

She was charged with taking a golden turtle figurine and the reproduction of a famous painting worth 2.65 million won for the appointment to the national education commission chief, and also accepting a wristwatch worth 39.9 million won from another businessman in return for business favors.

The special counsel team demanded a 15-year prison term for Kim, who has been held at a detention center since August, on separate corruption charges such as violating the Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act, and the law on acceptance of bribes for mediation.

The sentencing date was set for Jan 28 next year.

Kim became the first wife of a former South Korean president to be tried under detention.