Kim Keon Hee called to testify in Yoon Suk Yeol's trial on political fund violations

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee has been called to testify in a trial involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol, raising the possibility that the couple could see each other in court.

The Seoul Central District Court accepted the special prosecutor’s request to call Kim as a witness during the first hearing of Yoon’s trial on suspicions of political fund violations on Tuesday and scheduled her testimony for April 14.

The special prosecutor argued that Kim’s testimony is needed to clarify some facts, citing discrepancies with parts of a lower court ruling.

The former first lady reportedly told her lawyer after her first detention questioning in August last year, “Will I ever be able to live with my husband again? Will we be able to meet again?”

Earlier in the day, the Seoul Central District Court held the first hearing in a separate case involving allegations that Kim accepted valuables in exchange for favors when she was first lady.

Kim has been indicted on graft charges for receiving expensive gifts — including jewelry, a gold turtle figurine and high-value paintings — in return for influence over personnel appointments. Her legal team denied the allegations, arguing that no such requests were made and that the items were not given in exchange for favors.

“The defendant deeply regrets her imprudent behavior,” her lawyer said. “However, careless conduct and criminal punishment must be strictly distinguished. We earnestly ask for an acquittal.”

Kim’s case involves five alleged incidents. In December of last year, the special prosecutor indicted her without detention on graft charges, alleging that she received goods worth nearly 300 million won ($200,000).

Kim’s legal team acknowledged receiving items in most of the cases but denied that they were linked to solicitations or favors.

Her side said jewelry she received from Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-kwan, worth 103.8 million won, was a congratulatory gift to mark her husband's inauguration. Kim was accused of receiving the gift in exchange for appointing his son-in-law, Park Seung-keun, as chief of staff to the prime minister at the time. The former first lady's side, however, denied any involvement in the appointment.

A gold turtle figurine received from former chief of the presidential National Education Commission Lee Bae-yong was described as a thank-you gift, while a wristwatch worth 39.9 million won allegedly received from a robotics company executive was said to have been purchased on request.

Kim’s side denied receiving a painting worth 140 million won from former prosecutor Kim Sang-min in exchange for nomination favors, saying prosecutors failed to specify when, where or how the painting was allegedly delivered. While acknowledging that she received a luxury handbag from pastor Choi Jae-young, her legal team denied any quid pro quo.

The court noted that while accepting valuables as first lady may be inappropriate, the charges of graft require proof of a direct exchange, adding that the indictment alone appeared insufficient and asking prosecutors to supplement the charges.

Several other defendants, including the Seohee Construction chief, also appeared in court, admitting to all charges and requesting leniency, saying, “Everything was wrong. I deeply regret my actions.”

Prosecutors sought a one-year prison sentence, citing the provision of expensive gifts in pursuit of benefits. The court said it would separate his case and schedule sentencing at a later date.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY JO SU-BIN [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]