Yoon’s Opinion‑Poll Trial Set for March 17 as First Lady’s Verdict to Be Broadcast Live

Updated 2026-01-27 06:48:40+00:00 (60 articles)

Yoon’s trial date and weekly schedule confirmed The Seoul Central District Court scheduled the opening hearing for former President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s opinion‑poll case on March 17, 2026, with subsequent sessions to occur at one‑week intervals [1]. Prosecutors allege Yoon accepted 58 free polls valued at 270 million won from power broker Myung Tae‑kyun between April 2021 and March 2022, violating the Political Funds Act [1]. Myung faces parallel charges for providing the polls, and Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, remains indicted on the same count with a verdict pending [1].

Live broadcast of former first lady’s verdict approved A Seoul court granted broadcasters permission to air the ruling on Kim Keon Hee’s corruption case, scheduled for 2:10 p.m. on Wednesday, citing public‑interest concerns [2]. Prosecutors are seeking a 15‑year prison term for violations of the Capital Market Act, Political Funds Act, and a bribery‑for‑mediation statute [2]. The indictment alleges she profited 810 million won from stock‑price manipulation, received free opinion polls in exchange for political favors, and accepted luxury gifts worth 80 million won via a shaman‑linked channel [2]. Both Kim and Yoon remain in custody pending their respective trials [2].

Councilor resignation deepens Seoul bribery scandal Seoul Metropolitan Councilor Kim Kyung submitted her resignation before an ethics hearing, acknowledging a “heavy responsibility” after police linked her to a 100 million‑won payment to former lawmaker Kang Sun‑woo for a 2022 nomination [3][4]. A leaked audio recording showing Kang discussing the money with Rep. Kim Byung‑kee triggered the latter’s resignation as party floor leader [3][4]. Authorities have also opened a separate probe into alleged bribery related to a 2023 district‑chief by‑election, and the council’s ethics committee will proceed with its disciplinary session despite the resignation [3][4].

Probes expand to prosecutorial conduct and party‑linked bribery The Corruption Investigation Office raided special counsel Min Joong‑ki’s Seoul office, seizing phones and alleging his team favored the People Power Party while ignoring Democratic Party figures in a Unification Church bribery investigation [5]. The raid uncovered evidence of luxury watches and cash given to former officials, though formal investigations into those politicians have not been launched [5]. In a related case, police questioned Lee, wife of ex‑DP lawmaker Kim Byung‑kee, about receiving 30 million won from two Dongjak‑ward councilors in 2020 and alleged misuse of a councilor’s corporate card in 2022 [6].

Sources (6 articles)

Timeline

Dec 1, 2025 – A special‑counsel team led by Min Joong‑ki indicts Seoul Mayor Oh Se‑hoon for violating the Political Funds Act by arranging a proxy payment of 33 million won for ten opinion polls before the 2021 mayoral election; supporter Kim Han‑jung makes the payment in five installments, and former deputy mayor Kang Cheol‑won is also charged [27][29][30].

Dec 8, 2025 – The same counsel indicts Lee, a key participant in the Deutsche Motors stock‑manipulation scheme, accusing him of pocketing about 13 million won in illegal gains from trades between Oct 2010 and Dec 2012; investigators cite messenger chats with Kim Keon‑hee as evidence [25].

Dec 16, 2025 – Special counsel Min Joong‑ki raids opposition lawmaker Kim Gi‑hyeon’s home and National Assembly office, seizing a Roger Vivier clutch bag (2.6 million won) that his wife allegedly delivered to former first lady Kim Keon‑hee as a “social courtesy” gift tied to Unification‑Church recruitment [24].

Dec 20, 2025 – Former President Yoon Suk‑yeol is questioned for more than eight hours by the special‑counsel team about alleged corruption linked to his wife, including receipt of a free 270 million‑won opinion poll, a 140 million‑won painting, and possible false statements in a 2021 debate; Yoon denies all accusations [22].

Dec 22, 2025 – Opposition lawmaker Kim Gi‑hyeon appears at the special‑counsel office for questioning over the luxury‑gift bribery probe; he acknowledges his wife’s delivery of the clutch but insists it was a courteous gesture, not a bribe [21].

Dec 24, 2025 – A special‑counsel notice indicts ex‑President Yoon Suk‑yeol on charges of receiving dozens of free opinion‑poll results from power broker Myung Tae‑kyun, violating the Political Funds Act; the indictment follows earlier investigations into Yoon’s campaign finances [20].

Dec 26, 2025 – Prosecutors file two indictments against Yoon: one for election‑law violations stemming from a false claim in a Dec 2021 debate that he did not introduce a lawyer to a tax‑agency official, and another for speaking falsehoods during his presidential run; the filings add to Yoon’s ongoing insurrection‑related trial over the Dec 2024 martial‑law episode [18][19].

Dec 27, 2025 – Opposition People Power Party lawmaker Kim Gi‑hyeon and his wife are indicted for delivering the Roger Vivier clutch to former first lady Kim Keon‑hee; Kim admits the gift but denies any bribery, calling it “social courtesy” [17].

Jan 1, 2026 – Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Sun‑woo quits the party amid a bribery scandal alleging she received 100 million won from councilor Kim Kyung in 2022; Kang says she will fully cooperate with the investigation despite leaving the DP [15][16].

Jan 5, 2026 – Councilor Kim Kyung departs South Korea for the United States as the bribery probe widens; the Democratic Party expels Kang Sun‑woo and strips Kim Kyung of her floor‑leadership role, while investigators plan to summon Kim upon her return [14].

Jan 6, 2026 – Police raid special‑counsel Cho Eun‑suk’s office to seize documents on detention‑space planning tied to the Dec 2024 martial‑law declaration, aiming to preserve evidence of a 3,600‑detainee capacity estimate [12]; the same day, police question an ex‑aide of lawmaker Kim Gi‑hyeon over a 100 million‑won bribery allegation, with the aide denying knowledge of the cash handover [13].

Jan 8, 2026 – Seoul police interrogate a former Dongjak Ward council member about an alleged 10 million‑won delivery to Democratic Party Rep. Kim Byung‑kee during the 2020 parliamentary nomination process, a claim first raised in a 2023 petition [11].

Jan 11, 2026 – Councilor Kim Kyung returns to Incheon Airport from the United States after a brief trip, reaffirming her intent to cooperate with investigators despite criticism for attending CES 2026 in Las Vegas while under probe [10].

Jan 17, 2026 – Police re‑question former aide Nam for a second time about his alleged role in receiving 100 million won from councilor Kim Kyung and passing it to Rep. Kang Sun‑woo; Nam refuses to comment, and police announce they will summon Kang for further questioning [8][9].

Jan 20, 2026 – Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Sun‑woo appears at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for questioning as a suspect in the 2022 bribery case; she declines to answer reporters, maintaining that she ordered the cash’s return once she learned of it [6].

Jan 23, 2026 – The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) raids special‑counsel Min Joong‑ki’s Seoul office, seizing mobile devices amid accusations that his probe favored the People Power Party and concealed Unification‑Church‑related bribes involving Democratic Party figures [5].

Jan 26, 2026 – Seoul Metropolitan Councilor Kim Kyung resigns before an ethics hearing, submitting her resignation to avoid a possible expulsion; she issues a statement accepting “heavy responsibility” for breaching ethical duties and pledges full cooperation with investigators [3][4].

Jan 27, 2026 – The Seoul Central District Court grants broadcasters permission to air live the verdict in former first lady Kim Keon‑hee’s corruption case, scheduling the hearing for 2:10 p.m. that day; prosecutors seek a 15‑year prison term for stock‑price manipulation, illegal poll services, and shaman‑linked luxury gifts, while both Kim and former President Yoon remain in custody [1].

Jan 27, 2026 – The same court sets the first formal trial on former President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s alleged receipt of free opinion polls for March 17, 2026, with weekly sessions thereafter; the indictment accuses Yoon of accepting 58 free polls worth 270 million won in exchange for nomination assistance in the June 2022 parliamentary by‑elections [2].