Scandal Alert: South Korea’s First Couple Under Fire for Alleged Election Meddling

A special counsel team announced Monday that it has summoned both former President Yoon Suk Yeol and ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee for questioning scheduled to take place in the following weeks, over their alleged roles in election interference and other scandals.

The team led by prosecutor Min Joong-ki team ordered Yoon and Kim to each appear as suspects for separate questioning sessions scheduled on the mornings of July 29 and Aug. 6, respectively, assistant special counsel Moon Hong-ju said to a press briefing. The team, one of the three special counsel teams launched last month, is focused on investigating several allegations surrounding Kim.

Both Yoon and Kim are under scrutiny for their alleged interference in the People Power Party’s candidate nomination process for the 2022 by-elections.

Kim faces additional accusations of meddling in the main opposition party’s candidate selection process for the 2024 general election.

Beyond election interference, Kim is expected to face questions about her alleged involvement in two separate stock manipulation scandals, as well as her acceptance of luxury gifts from a shaman in exchange for favors benefiting the Unification Church.

However, it remains uncertain whether Kim and Yoon will comply with the summons. Yoon, currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center, has already refused to appear for questioning regarding separate allegations of insurrection and treason from another special counsel team.

In a related development, prosecutor Min’s team conducted search and seizure operations at the Finance Ministry and the Export-Import Bank of Korea headquarters on Monday morning. These actions are linked to suspicions of tampering with a loan aid program to benefit the Unification Church.

A high-ranking Unification Church official, identified only by the surname Jeon, is accused of gifting a diamond necklace and a luxury bag to Kim through a shaman in 2022. This alleged gift-giving was reportedly in exchange for various favors from the Yoon administration. The administration is suspected of funneling money to a Unification Church-led project in Cambodia through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund. This fund, established by the South Korean government in 1987 to support developing countries, is managed by the Export-Import Bank of Korea.