South Korea charges former first lady with bribery and ex-prime minister over martial law allegations.
On August 29, 2025, South Korean prosecutors made headlines with significant indictments against prominent political figures connected to the previous administration. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been charged with aiding former President Yoon Suk-yeol in his controversial attempt to impose martial law last year. Concurrently, Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon-hee, faces serious allegations, including bribery related to a stock manipulation scheme and improperly received gifts from the Unification Church.
According to reports from ZezapTV and other sources, the charges against Han, aged 76, were announced on Friday following an investigation by a special prosecutorial team. In addition to aiding martial law, Han is also accused of perjury and falsifying official documents. Assistant Special Counsel Park Ji-young emphasized that Han occupied the highest office that could have halted Yoon’s controversial decision and that Han actively sought to legitimize it during a Cabinet Council meeting.
Han has consistently maintained that he expressed opposition regarding the martial law proposal to Yoon, asserting his commitment to democratic governance during a tumultuous political period. Meanwhile, Kim’s lawyers vehemently deny the allegations against her, claiming that several media reports surrounding the purported gifts have been based on unfounded speculation.
The former First Lady has gained notoriety over the years, grappling with a series of scandals that have impacted the political landscape and posed challenges for Yoon’s administration and the ruling People Power Party (PPP). The former president’s presidency suffered considerably from these controversies, culminating in his impeachment in April.
Throughout the political upheaval, Han Duck-soo briefly assumed the role of acting president during the transition period between December and May following the martial law incident. However, he later opted to resign in pursuit of his candidacy for the presidential race, which he ultimately lost to Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party in the June 3 election. Lee notably gained public attention for his dramatic live-streamed act of climbing over the National Assembly walls to vote against the martial law decree initiated by Yoon.
This unfolding political drama highlights ongoing tensions within South Korea’s governance and the increasing scrutiny faced by its leaders. As the country reflects on these events, questions surrounding political accountability and democratic integrity remain pertinent.
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