Kim Keon-hee Charged in Presidential Residence Scandal
South Korea's first lady faces charges in the presidential-residence project case, with the legal process ongoing.
3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 23, 2026, 4:39 p.m. ET
Earlier reports
Aug 23, 2026, 4:45 p.m. ET
Kim Keon-hee Charged in Presidential Residence Scandal; Case Undecided
Kim Keon-hee, the wife of South Korea's president, has been charged in connection with the presidential residence scandal, according to a report by IBTimes UK. The charges were announced on August 18, 2025, and include abuse of authority, obstruction of official duties by deception, and drafting and using false official documents. The case is at the charging stage and has not been decided.
The case stems from allegations that Kim and Yoon Han-hong helped steer a $2.9 million presidential-residence project to 21 Gram, a construction company lacking necessary qualifications, and that Kim received bribes and valuables from the company in exchange for help securing the contract and favorable treatment over construction costs. The government's allegations were reported by IBTimes UK.
Kim has not been tried, and the charges remain undecided. No presumption of innocence has been stated in the release, but she is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Aug 23, 2026, 4:39 p.m. ETFirst report
South Korea's First Lady Kim Keon-hee Indicted in Presidential Residence Scandal
South Korea's first lady, Kim Keon-hee, and Yoon Han-hong have been charged in connection with a presidential-residence project, according to a report by IBTimes UK on August 18, 2025. The charges include abuse of authority, obstruction of official duties by deception, and drafting and using false official documents.
The government alleges that Kim and Yoon helped steer a $2.9 million presidential-residence project to 21 Gram, a construction company lacking necessary qualifications, and that Kim received bribes and valuables from 21 Gram in exchange for help securing the contract and favorable treatment over construction costs. The charges are allegations, and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case is at the charging stage, and no trial has taken place. The development is ongoing.
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