All of South Korea’s law enforcement agencies are now investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol, with seven criminal cases underway following the loss of his presidential immunity after his April 4 ouster.
While controversies surrounding Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, drew attention during his presidency, investigations had stalled due to Article 84 of the Constitution, which shields sitting presidents from prosecution except for insurrection or treason. Yoon also vetoed multiple bills calling for a special counsel probe into his wife’s alleged misconduct.
But the investigations have regained momentum. On Thursday, prosecutors indicted Yoon for abuse of power, related to his alleged declaration of martial law. A special team led by Park Se-hyun at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office said Yoon will face trial for violating Article 123 of the Criminal Act. The prosecution has acted the Seoul Central District Court to merge the case with his insurrection charge case, ongoing since Feb. 26.
A day earlier, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office raided the former first couple’s private residence and Covana Contents, Kim's exhibition planning company. The raid targeted suspected ties between the couple and shaman Jeon Seong-bae, also known as Geon Jin, including alleged violations of the country's antigraft law.
Investigators are examining claims that Jeon received luxury gifts — reportedly intended for Kim, including a diamond necklace and handbag — after Yoon’s 2022 election victory from a high-ranking official of the Unification Church, a religious movement derived from Christianity. Jeon is also accused of receiving 100 million won ($70,478) from a People Power Party candidate and is believed to have played an unofficial advisory role in Yoon’s campaign.
The prosecution is additionally revisiting two separate election law violation cases, in which Yoon allegedly made false statements about his mother-in-law’s fraud case and his wife’s involvement in a stock manipulation scandal, during his campaign in 2022. These cases had previously been paused due to Yoon's then presidential immunity.
In parallel, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials has resumed its probe into Yoon’s alleged interference in a military investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, a marine conscript who drowned during a rescue mission in 2023. Investigators recently conducted forensic analysis of the phone used by Lim Seong-geun, the then commander of the deceased marine's division.
Separately, police are also pursuing obstruction of justice charges over Yoon’s attempts to block the execution of an arrest warrant at the presidential residence in January this year.
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com
