Kim Keon Hee Special Counsel Investigation 2025: Shadow Governance and Graft Exposed
On Dec 29, 2025, Special Counsel Min Joong-ki announced the final results of the Kim Keon Hee investigation, detailing illegal state intervention and 370 million won in bribes. Read the full report.
The public system didn't just fail; it was bypassed. On December 29, 2025, Special Counsel Min Joong-ki concluded a high-stakes 180-day probe, accusing former First Lady Kim Keon Hee of orchestrating a "modern-day sale of public offices" from behind the curtains. The fallout has reached the highest echelons of power, leading to the indictment of the ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his spouse.
Kim Keon Hee Special Counsel Investigation 2025: Key Findings
According to Yonhap, the investigation team confirmed that Kim played a leading role in several corruption schemes. These include manipulating the stock price of Deutsch Motors, accepting free political opinion polls, and receiving illegal gifts from the Unification Church. The special counsel has placed 20 individuals under custody and indicted dozens more as part of the massive corruption crackdown.
The Cost of Influence: Jewelry, Paintings, and Millions
The scale of the alleged bribery is staggering. Kim reportedly received gifts totaling 370 million won (approx. $258,000) in exchange for political favors. Notable items include a 140 million won painting and a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace worth over 100 million won. Furthermore, the team found she amassed 810 million won in illegal profits through stock manipulation between 2010 and 2012.
We've confirmed through multiple cases that the public system of the Republic of Korea was greatly damaged by the abuse of authority from a president's spouse.
While Yoon claims he wasn't aware of the gifts, the special counsel noted such assertions are "difficult to believe." Although direct evidence to indict him on certain bribery charges was insufficient, the couple is being treated as a "political union" that acted together. The case has now been transferred to the police for further granular investigation into the former president's specific involvement.
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