Seoul: The South Korean National Assembly has rejected a bill that called for a special investigation into President Yoon Suk-yeol’s wife, Kim Keon-hee, with 198 lawmakers out of the required 200 voting against the motion.
The bill was put to vote in parliament immediately before the impeachment vote against Yoon, who is accused of attempting to seize power violently and exceeding his authority by declaring martial law without proper grounds and in violation of the law.
In early October, the South Korean prosecution cleared Kim Keon-hee of bribery allegations related to luxury gifts she received between June and September 2022, including a Dior bag and a Chanel cosmetics set. The prosecution determined that these gifts were not linked to her husband’s official duties but were merely gestures to maintain friendly relations. They also found no evidence connecting pastor Choi Jae-young, who allegedly gifted the items, to any corrupt intent, emphasizing that South Korean anti-bribery laws do not impose specific penalties for receiving gifts unrelated to official duties.
The decision sparked criticism from the opposition Democratic Party, which accused the prosecution of shielding the president and his wife. The party is advocating for prosecution reform and a special investigation into Kim Keon-hee. President Yoon signed a recommendation to have a previously passed bill for a special investigation into his wife reevaluated by the National Assembly. Yoon is expected to veto the bill again if it is approved.
