South Korean prosecutors went and raided the home of the former president Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee on Wednesday, in a big escalation of a corruption probe into alleged influence peddling and backroom deals linked to the former first couple. This is the first time prosecutors have done a court-approved raid against the former presidential couple. The investigation is separate from the ongoing criminal probe into Yoon’s controversial December 3 martial law decree that led to his impeachment. “We have started searching and seizing stuff at the ex-president’s residence” concerning allegations of influence peddling involving an intermediary named Jeon Seong-bae, the Seoul Nambu District Prosecutors’ Office said. Critics accused prosecutors of hesitating to pursue cases involving the presidential couple when Yoon was in office, mainly because Yoon used to be their boss. “It shows prosecutors are now deadly serious,” Choi Jin, head of the Institute for Presidential Leadership, told This Week in Asia. “In my memory, this is the first time a former president’s private home has been searched in this manner,” he said.
Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee were caught up in the raid, with prosecutors looking for evidence related to alleged corruption and influence peddling. The raid marks a significant development in the investigation into the former first couple, as it is the first time prosecutors have taken such action against them. The probe is separate from the ongoing criminal investigation into Yoon’s December 3 martial law decree, which ultimately led to his impeachment. The Seoul Nambu District Prosecutors’ Office is leading the investigation and is focusing on allegations of influence peddling involving an intermediary named Jeon Seong-bae. Critics have long been skeptical of the relationship between the presidential couple and prosecutors, given Yoon’s previous position of authority over them. The raid on the former president’s private residence signals a new level of seriousness in the investigation, according to Choi Jin, head of the Institute for Presidential Leadership.
The search and seizure at Yoon Suk-yeol’s home come as part of a broader investigation into alleged corruption and influence peddling by the former president and his wife. The raid is a significant step in the probe, as it is the first time prosecutors have conducted such an operation against the former first couple. This investigation is distinct from the ongoing criminal probe into Yoon’s martial law decree, which sparked controversy and ultimately led to his impeachment. The Seoul Nambu District Prosecutors’ Office is leading the charge, focusing on allegations of influence peddling involving an intermediary named Jeon Seong-bae. Critics have raised concerns about the relationship between the presidential couple and prosecutors, given Yoon’s past role as their superior. The raid on the former president’s home demonstrates a newfound determination on the part of prosecutors, as noted by Choi Jin, head of the Institute for Presidential Leadership.
The raid on the home of Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee is a significant development in the corruption probe involving the former first couple. This marks the first time that prosecutors have taken such action against the ex-president and his wife, signaling a new phase in the investigation. The probe is separate from the criminal investigation into Yoon’s martial law decree, which led to his impeachment. The Seoul Nambu District Prosecutors’ Office is leading the investigation, focusing on allegations of influence peddling involving an intermediary named Jeon Seong-bae. Critics have questioned the relationship between the presidential couple and prosecutors, given Yoon’s previous position as their superior. The raid on the former president’s home is a clear indication of the seriousness with which prosecutors are approaching the case, according to Choi Jin, head of the Institute for Presidential Leadership.
