# South Korean political corruption investigations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-political-corruption-investigations
> Updated: 2026-10-18T09:11:00.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

South Korean special prosecutors are conducting high-profile legal actions and investigations involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee and various political figures. In one major case, the Min Joong-gi Special Prosecutor Team has appealed a second-instance ruling regarding First Lady Kim, who received a five-year prison sentence for ‘selling offices’. The prosecution is seeking a Supreme Court review, arguing that certain acquittals regarding luxury goods and art reproductions are “inconsistent with public sentiment”.

Other legal proceedings include a corruption case against former Justice Minister Park Seong-jae, for whom prosecutors have requested a 25-year sentence related to an insurrection following a December 3 martial law declaration. Additionally, lawmaker Kim Gi-hyeon faces a requested one-year sentence for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by providing a luxury clutch bag to the First Lady.

Parallel to these corruption cases, investigations have uncovered irregularities in how prosecutors handled the First Lady’s alleged involvement in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case. Indictments suggest that Prosecutor Kim Min-gu improperly intervened in the investigation by exchanging thousands of messages with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and modifying investigation reports after being transferred to a different branch. Furthermore, while the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's Anti-Corruption Department had previously reported that charges of aiding and abetting stock manipulation could be established against Kim Keon-hee, the prosecution ultimately decided not to indict her in October 2024.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-18: South Korean prosecutors accused of irregular involvement in Kim Keon-hee investigation

A special prosecutor's indictment reveals that Prosecutor Kim Min-gu improperly intervened in the First Lady Kim Keon-hee investigation and that prosecutors previously identified grounds for aiding and abetting

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-prosecutors-accused-of-irregular-involvement-in-kim-keon-hee-investigation

### 2026-09-28: South Korean prosecutors pursue legal actions against First Lady Kim and former officials

South Korean special prosecutors are pursuing high-level legal actions, including an appeal against First Lady Kim Keon-hee and a 25-year sentence request for former Justice Minister Park Seong-jae.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kim-seung-wons-former-aide-alleges-financial-misconduct

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Cite as: South Korean political corruption investigations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-korean-political-corruption-investigations