Aug. 30 (UPI) — The Seoul Central District Court on Friday indicted former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee for alleged corruption during her husband’s presidency.
Kim is the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who also was indicted on corruption charges on Friday and is being held in detention.
Kim is charged with influence peddling during South Korea’s 2022 by-elections, bribery and stock manipulation.
“I am truly sorry for the distress this situation has caused the public, but I will not make excuses under any circumstances,” Kim said, as reported by The Korea Herald.
“I will endure this time by holding on to the truth,” she said.
A special counsel investigation began two months ago and accuses Kim of receiving free polling data on 50 occasions during her husband’s 2022 presidential election race.
The special counsel also accuses Kim of helping former People Power Party Rep. Kim Young-sun to win that party’s nomination in 2022.
She also is accused of engaging in a stock market manipulation scheme from 2009 to 2012 involving shares in Deutsch Motors and receiving a diamond necklace worth $34,244.
A high-ranking Unification Church official allegedly gave Kim two Chanel designer handbags in exchange for supporting related projects in Cambodia.
More charges might be filed against Kim as the special counsel continues its investigation through Nov. 29.
Her husband in December briefly imposed martial law in South Korea amid the political scandal that resulted in his impeachment and the current charges against him and Kim.
In a related case, former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was indicted for assisting Yoon in the martial law declaration.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with current South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday in the United States, CNBC reported.