SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's special counsel on Monday finalized investigations into corruption charges of former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife.
The team of independent counsel Min Joong-ki said in a statement, unveiled after wrapping up the 180-day probe, that it filed charges against a total of 76 people, including 20 indicted under detention.
It noted that the allegations against Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, were wide-ranging, including: stock price manipulation, accepting luxury gifts, illegally interfering in the relocation of the presidential office and residence, and illegally receiving political funds.
The special counsel team said the allegations, which had emerged even before Yoon took office, were both extensive in scope and significant in nature.
It was confirmed that Kim had exploited her position as first lady both to readily receive luxury gifts and to extensively interfere in appointments and nominations. This conduct, which could be called a modern-day sale of public office, resulted in a significant breakdown of public systems, the team stressed.
The special counsel team demanded a 15-year prison term for Kim, who has been held at a detention center since August. The sentencing date was set for Jan. 28 next year.
Kim became the first wife of a former South Korean president to be tried under detention. ■
