• Kim Keon Hee, South Korea’s former first lady, faces bribery and related corruption charges.
• Her husband, ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached over a failed martial law attempt.
• Special prosecutors are investigating multiple aspects of political corruption involving the couple.
• This marks the first time in South Korea's history that a former first lady has been indicted.
• Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is also indicted for his role in the martial law debacle.

Kim Keon Hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was indicted on August 29 for bribery and a range of other charges amid a widening investigation linked to the martial law crisis in South Korea. Both Kim and Yoon are currently in jail, with Yoon facing insurrection charges stemming from his controversial attempt to impose martial law in December 2022. The investigation represents a significant challenge to Yoon’s once-prominent political career and is described as a historic moment, being the first time a former first lady has faced indictment in South Korea, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and South China Morning Post.

The charges against Kim include stock manipulation and receiving illicit political funds, with prosecutors alleging her involvement in various scandals that extend back over 15 years. Her alleged actions have not only overshadowed Yoon's presidency but have also inflicted considerable damage to his conservative party, the People Power Party (PPP). Kim, in a statement, expressed her intent to face the trial without making excuses and criticized media coverage as misleading, according to Al Jazeera, India Times, and Los Angeles Times.

Moreover, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was indicted the same day, charged with aiding Yoon's martial law declaration and accused of perjury along with other offenses. This reflects the depth of the political turmoil following the impeachment of Yoon in April and his subsequent arrest. The prosecutors stated that these investigations shine a light on "the collapse of institutional checks" on power during Yoon’s tenure, underscoring the need for institutional reform to prevent future corruption incidents, as noted by South China Morning Post and Reuters.