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Key Points

Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee's corruption trial is set to begin on September 24. She faces multiple charges including stock manipulation and accepting bribes for political favors. This marks a historic moment as both she and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, will be tried simultaneously while in custody. The case involves allegations of luxury gifts from the Unification Church and election-related corruption.

Key Points: Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee Corruption Trial Begins Sep 24

  • Trial begins September 24 at Seoul Central District Court
  • Charged with stock manipulation from 2009-2012 and bribery
  • Accused of receiving luxury gifts from Unification Church
  • First former presidential spouse to stand trial while in custody
2 min read

South Korea: Ex-First Lady Kim's trial on corruption charges to begin Sep 24

South Korea's ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee faces trial on corruption charges including stock manipulation and bribery, marking a historic legal case alongside her jailed husband.

"Kim and her husband will become the first former presidential couple to stand trial under arrest simultaneously - Yonhap News Agency"

Seoul, Sep 10

South Korea's former First lady Kim Keon Hee's trial on corruption charges will formally begin later this month, legal sources said Wednesday, following her indictment by special counsel Min Joong-ki late last month.

The Seoul Central District Court set September 24 as the date for the first hearing of the trial, after Kim, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was indicted on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act and a law on the acceptance of bribes for mediation on August 29.

Specifically, she is accused of providing funds for a stock manipulation scheme from 2009 to 2012, and receiving free opinion polls together with her husband from a self-proclaimed power broker ahead of the presidential election in 2022 in exchange for securing the nomination of former People Power Party Rep. Kim Young-sun for a parliamentary by-election later that year.

Additionally, she is suspected of receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church through a shaman acquaintance in exchange for business favours in 2022.

She has been in custody since a court issued a warrant for her arrest on August 12.

Kim and her husband will become the first former presidential couple to stand trial under arrest simultaneously, as Yoon is also jailed and being tried on insurrection charges over his failed attempt to impose martial law in December, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier on August 29, a special counsel team had indicted the former First Lady on charges of corruption and bribery, making her the first spouse of a former President to stand trial under custody.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Both husband and wife in jail simultaneously? That's quite something. Shows how power can corrupt absolutely. Hope South Korea sets an example for accountability.
A
Arjun K
Luxury gifts from Unification Church through a shaman? This sounds like some Bollywood movie plot! Reality is stranger than fiction sometimes 😅
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Sarah B
While corruption must be punished, I hope the trial is fair and not politically motivated. Sometimes these cases become tools for settling political scores.
V
Vikram M
Stock manipulation from 2009-2012 and they're only getting caught now? Shows how long these things can take to come to light. Hope the justice system works efficiently.
M
Michael C
First former presidential couple to stand trial under arrest simultaneously - that's a historic moment for South Korea's democracy. Hope this strengthens their institutions.

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