Dec 2024 – A brief martial‑law declaration triggers an insurrection trial for former President Yoon Suk‑yeol, linking his later legal troubles to the political fallout from that episode[1].

2022 – Kim Keon Hee receives free opinion polls worth 270 million won from a self‑styled power broker and luxury gifts valued at 80 million won from a Unification Church official, allegedly in exchange for political favors ahead of the presidential election[1][2].

2023 – Kim Keon Hee allegedly helps recruit Unification Church followers for the People Power Party (PPP) ahead of the party’s 2023 leadership race, illustrating the intertwining of religious networks and party politics[4].

July 2025 – Special counsel Min Joong‑ki launches a 180‑day probe into Kim Keon Hee, focusing on three suspicions: stock‑price manipulation, free opinion polls, and luxury gifts from the Unification Church[5].

Aug 6 2025 – Kim Keon Hee appears for questioning, becoming the first spouse of a former or sitting president to be publicly examined as a criminal suspect[5].

Aug 12 2025 – Authorities detain Kim Keon Hee in custody on corruption charges, while her husband Yoon Suk‑yeol remains jailed on insurrection and related offenses[1].

Aug 29 2025 – Prosecutors indict Kim Keon Hee on violations of the Capital Market Act, Political Funds Act, and a bribery‑for‑mediation statute, accusing her of a 810 million won stock‑manipulation scheme and of exchanging polls and gifts for political advantage[5].

Dec 19 2025 – Former President Yoon Suk‑yeol appears before the special counsel as a suspect in his wife’s bribery case, denied knowledge of the 270 million‑won polls and 140 million‑won painting, and is described by his lawyer as “completely unaware” of the luxury gifts[8].

Dec 20 2025 – Yoon Suk‑yeol undergoes a second eight‑hour interrogation, which prosecutors say will likely be his final appearance before the probe concludes on Dec 28[7].

Dec 21 2025 – New Reform Party leader Lee Jun‑seok is questioned for nearly ten hours about alleged 2022 by‑election meddling involving Kim Keon Hee and Yoon Suk‑yeol, and he testifies that he cooperated fully while denying the accusations[6].

Dec 28 2025 – The special counsel wraps up its 180‑day investigation, having placed 20 people in custody and indicted 66, including Kim Keon Hee and former President Yoon Suk‑yeol, marking the broadest corruption sweep of the administration to date[5].

Dec 29 2025 – At a press briefing, assistant special counsel Kim Hyong‑kun declares that Kim Keon Hee “intervened in state affairs behind the curtains” and describes the conduct as a “modern‑day sale of public offices,” while prosecutors transfer the case to police, noting insufficient evidence to charge Yoon Suk‑yeol[2][3].

Jan 27 2026 – The Seoul Central District Court green‑lights a live broadcast of Kim Keon Hee’s verdict, scheduling the hearing for 2:10 p.m.; special counsel Min Joong‑ki seeks a 15‑year prison term, citing illegal stock manipulation, poll‑exchange, and shaman‑linked luxury gifts as central charges[1].