South Korea’s ex-first lady sees bribery probe deepen over US$40,000 watch

As jailed South Korean ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol continues to defy prosecutors’ attempts to question him over his martial law debacle, his wife Kim Keon-hee – who has also been detained – faces fresh bribery accusations amid a growing list of scandals involving luxury brands and political favours.

After meeting her for more than two hours on Wednesday, one of her lawyers said Kim had “not eaten a single meal” since being detained the previous afternoon, adding “her health condition is currently poor”.

Despite this, detention centre officials said she would appear before prosecutors on Thursday for her first interrogation since being jailed.

Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki’s team has opened a formal investigation into claims that in September 2022, just four months after Yoon took office, a businessman surnamed Seo bought a Vacheron Constantin “Historiques American 1921” luxury watch on behalf of Kim.

The watch, worth 54 million won (US$39,000), was reportedly sold to Kim for 35 million won after a boutique sales clerk in Seoul confirmed via a video call that she would get a “special VIP” discount.