As investigations into former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee continue, the public is learning in detail just how little respect the couple had for the presidency and how brazenly they abused and privatized power while in office. Each newly disclosed detail of their appalling behavior induces vicarious shame. It is terrifying to imagine what might have happened to our nation if the Yoon had stayed in office even a little longer.
On Monday, Kwak Jong-geun, the former chief of the Army Special Warfare Command, testified as a witness in Yoon’s insurrection trial. Kwak stated, “[Yoon] mentioned Han Dong-hoon and a few politicians and told [me] to bring them before him.” The former commander added that Yoon even vowed to “shoot and kill” said political figures. This statement reveals why Yoon declared martial law and exposes his true colors: The former president sought to wield power brutally and ruthlessly, like a tyrannical monarch.
Kwak testified that he heard these remarks during a dinner last year held at the presidential residence on Oct. 1, which is Armed Forces Day in Korea. Other guests at the dinner included then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun as well as other ministry officials.
Yoon described the gathering in court by saying, “Didn’t we start passing around soju and soju-beer bombs as soon as we sat down? I remember a lot of glasses going around.” In this attempt to portray the gathering as an occasion where discussion of political issues would not have been held, the former president essentially revealed his drinking habits.
It’s shocking that the nation’s commander-in-chief responsible for our country’s security gathered the defense minister and key commanders for a night of such drunken revelry. Yoon’s excessive drinking habits persisted throughout his entire term. How could he possibly have managed state affairs under such circumstances?
Then on Wednesday, Kim Keon-hee’s legal team admitted that the former first lady received a Chanel bag as a gift from the Unification Church through Jeon Seong-bae, a shaman also known as “Geonjin.” After deceiving the public for over six months, Kim has now partially admitted to accepting bribes just before her bail hearing date. While Kim asserts that this admission is in effect a public apology, a statement released under the name of her legal team cannot be considered a genuine expression of remorse. Moreover, Kim still denies receiving from Jeon a luxury Graff brand necklace incomparably more expensive than the Chanel bag.
In addition, Kim has never admitted to receiving other bribes such as a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace from Seohee Construction CEO Lee Bong-kwan, a Vacheron Constantin watch from an entrepreneur surnamed Seo, or a Dior bag from US-based pastor Choi Jae-young.
More luxury brand suspicions have emerged. On Thursday, the special counsel team led by Min Joung-kie raided and seized items from Kim and Yoon’s private residence at the Acrovista apartment complex in Seoul’s Seocho District, specifically calling for the raid to collect “all Christian Dior products.” The special counsel is reportedly investigating whether Kim received money or valuables from 21 Gram, the contractor that worked on relocating the presidential residence. Kim has racked up countless examples in her pattern of receiving luxury goods in exchange for favors.
The fact that the former presidential couple even used national heritage sites as their private playground raises suspicions that they secretly considered themselves royalty. Recently, it was revealed that in March 2023, Kim entered the National Palace Museum’s storage room, which is strictly off-limits to laypersons, without leaving any records. In September of the same year, she entered the Geunjeongjeon hall of Gyeongbok Palace, a national treasure, and sat on the royal throne.
Furthermore, it has emerged that the presidential office “borrowed” nine royal artifacts from Gyeongbok Palace’s Geoncheong residence, including a royal chest, lacquered boxes, and white bronze candlesticks. It is impossible to verify what uses these artifacts were put to before they were returned after Yoon’s impeachment. It is an understatement to say that each of these findings is bizarre and appalling.
On Friday, Yoon and Kim appeared at the Seoul Central District Court to face trial for obstruction of arrest and violations of the Political Funds Act, respectively. It was the first time in Korea’s constitutional history that a former presidential couple stood trial on the same day. This alone is nothing short of a national disgrace. However, we have yet to fully examine the extent of the Yoon-Kim couple’s abuse of power, considering the facts emerging from recent trials and the special counsel’s investigation. As the special counsel probe now enters its final stages, the team of investigators must give their all to uncover the truth.
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