The Tamesis
December 30, 2025
Seoul – Special prosecutor Min Joong-ki’s team concluded in a briefing on Monday that controversial former first lady Kim Gun-hee violated a host of laws by using her position to accept bribes and interfere in state affairs when she had no power.
The special prosecutor announced the results of a 180-day investigation into Kim Jong Un, her close aides and those accused of involvement in her alleged crimes at 10 a.m. A total of 20 people were arrested and 76 people were prosecuted in 31 cases, involving an estimated criminal proceeds of 1.46 billion won (US$1.01 million).
Min said the investigative team found new evidence that Kim Jong Un accepted luxury goods and works of art as a result of being the wife of former President Yun Seok-yeol, as well as evidence related to existing charges that Kim Jong Il accepted bribes from the Unification Church and interfered in state affairs, such as moving the presidential palace.
“What we have discovered so far is that Kim Jong Un used his status as the president’s spouse to easily obtain expensive items and extensively interfered in personnel decisions and nomination processes,” Min said. “We have found in multiple cases that South Korea’s public institutions have been seriously violated due to the abuse of power by the president’s wife.”
The team’s main achievement was its investigation into long-controversial allegations that ended during Yoon’s tenure as president. These included King’s alleged involvement in a Deutsche Auto stock-manipulation scheme, for which King was exonerated last year after participating in an interrogation by prosecutors.
The special prosecutor uncovered several pieces of evidence supporting the allegation, including a recording of Kim’s voice, and she was charged under the Capital Markets Act pending a court ruling on January 28.
Lee Jong-ho, a close aide to Kim Jong-un and manager of a bank account linked to the Deutsche Auto scandal, testified earlier this month that he gave her a 300 million won check as investment profits. This was not included in the Dec. 3 arraignment, but the admission is widely believed to be Lee’s attempt to reduce his sentence.
Another case closed under Yoon concerned allegations that Kim received a luxury bag from a Korean-American pastor. A special prosecutor’s team subpoenaed the pastor and indicted both him and King on charges of illegal solicitation and receiving bribes in exchange for mediation.
Ms. Kim is suspected of receiving items worth 377.25 million won since her husband was elected president. Recently, it was discovered that Rep. Kim Ki-hyun of the Yoon People’s Power Party and his wife also gave the former first lady a luxury bag.
“Although his wife continued to receive items, Mr. Yoon told the special prosecutor that he had no knowledge of it. It is difficult to believe his story,” said Assistant Special Prosecutor Kim Hyung-geun.
Still, the official said there was insufficient evidence to establish that Yin knew his wife allegedly took items in exchange for favors. That’s why Kim is accused of offering bribes in exchange for mediation, rather than bribing public officials, which would have resulted in heavier penalties.
The special prosecutor’s team said the alleged bribery links between Kim Jong Un and Yoon, as well as other allegations that have not yet been fully investigated, will be handed over to the National Investigation Office under the National Police Agency.
The assistant special counsel said many sought help from Kim Jong Un, not Yoon himself, and their requests were granted.
“It can be said that the special prosecutor confirmed the illegal interference of the president’s wife in state affairs behind the scenes,” he said, calling her actions “undermining the constitutional order.”
Min’s team also investigated suspicions that Kim Jong Un received luxury goods from the Unification Church, whose leader Han Hak-ja is currently on trial. People’s Power Party MP Kwon Sung-dong was also accused of accepting bribes from the church in exchange for exercising influence within the party as then house leader.
Kim Jong-un’s confidant and shaman Jeon Sung-bae, known as “Master Jianzhen,” is suspected of being involved in the recruitment activities of the Unification Church.
“The investigation found that the Unification Church had access to Yoon and Kim through Kwon Hwa-chon, a key figure in the Yoon government, involving high-priced items. This is to ensure that the church can realize its ‘theocracy’ philosophy and ensure that its policies and operations are reflected in national policies,” said Assistant Special Adviser Park Sang-jin.
The Myung Tae-gyun scandal, in which political polling agency Myung allegedly provided free polls to Yoon and Kim in exchange for input into the parliamentary nomination process, led to the couple and Myung being prosecuted under the Political Funding Act.
Min’s team said they found evidence of other bribery cases involving multiple parties, as well as benefits involving the relocation of the president’s official residence.
Investigators also found that the rerouting of the Yangpyeong Expressway – with the new route ending near the Kim family’s land – was done on the orders of President Yoon’s transition team without justification. Several public officials were indicted for abuse of power and bribery, and the rest of the investigation will be handed over to the National Intelligence Service.
