Former President Yoon Suk-yeol and former first woman Kim Keon-hee. (pool images)
As investigations into former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his spouse Kim Keon-hee proceed, the general public is studying intimately simply how little respect the couple had for the presidency and the way overtly they abused and privatized energy whereas in workplace. Every newly disclosed element of their appalling conduct induces vicarious disgrace. It’s terrifying to think about what may need occurred to our nation if the Yoon had stayed in workplace even a bit longer.
On Monday, Kwak Jong-geun, the previous chief of the Military Particular Warfare Command, testified as a witness in Yoon’s riot trial. Kwak acknowledged, “[Yoon] talked about Han Dong-hoon and some politicians and advised [me] to carry them earlier than him.” The previous commander added that Yoon even vowed to “shoot and kill” stated political figures. This assertion reveals why Yoon declared martial regulation and exposes his true colours: The previous president sought to wield energy brutally and ruthlessly, like a tyrannical monarch.
Kwak testified that he heard these remarks throughout a dinner final yr held on the presidential residence on Oct. 1, which is Armed Forces Day in Korea. Different visitors on the dinner included then-Protection Minister Kim Yong-hyun in addition to different ministry officers.
Yoon described the gathering in court docket by saying, “Didn’t we begin passing round soju and soju-beer bombs as quickly as we sat down? I keep in mind a number of glasses going round.” On this try to painting the gathering as an event the place dialogue of political points wouldn’t have been held, the previous president primarily revealed his ingesting habits.
It’s stunning that the nation’s commander-in-chief accountable for our nation’s safety gathered the protection minister and key commanders for an evening of such drunken revelry. Yoon’s extreme ingesting habits continued all through his total time period. How may he probably have managed state affairs beneath such circumstances?
Then on Wednesday, Kim Keon-hee’s authorized group admitted that the previous first woman obtained a Chanel bag as a present from the Unification Church by Jeon Seong-bae, a shaman also called “Geonjin.” After deceiving the general public for over six months, Kim has now partially admitted to accepting bribes simply earlier than her bail listening to date. Whereas Kim asserts that this admission is in impact a public apology, a press release launched beneath the identify of her authorized group can’t be thought of a real expression of regret. Furthermore, Kim nonetheless denies receiving from Jeon a luxurious Graff model necklace incomparably costlier than the Chanel bag.
As well as, Kim has by no means admitted to receiving different bribes similar to a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace from Seohee Development CEO Lee Bong-kwan, a Vacheron Constantin watch from an entrepreneur surnamed Website positioning, or a Dior bag from US-based pastor Choi Jae-young.
Extra luxurious model suspicions have emerged. On Thursday, the particular counsel group led by Min Joung-kie raided and seized gadgets from Kim and Yoon’s personal residence on the Acrovista house complicated in Seoul’s Seocho District, particularly calling for the raid to gather “all Christian Dior merchandise.” The particular counsel is reportedly investigating whether or not Kim obtained cash or valuables from 21 Gram, the contractor that labored on relocating the presidential residence. Kim has racked up numerous examples in her sample of receiving luxurious items in alternate for favors.
The truth that the previous presidential couple even used nationwide heritage websites as their personal playground raises suspicions that they secretly thought of themselves royalty. Lately, it was revealed that in March 2023, Kim entered the Nationwide Palace Museum’s storage room, which is strictly off-limits to laypersons, with out leaving any information. In September of the identical yr, she entered the Geunjeongjeon corridor of Gyeongbok Palace, a nationwide treasure, and sat on the royal throne.
Moreover, it has emerged that the presidential workplace “borrowed” 9 royal artifacts from Gyeongbok Palace’s Geoncheong residence, together with a royal chest, lacquered containers, and white bronze candlesticks. It’s inconceivable to confirm what makes use of these artifacts have been put to earlier than they have been returned after Yoon’s impeachment. It’s an understatement to say that every of those findings is weird and appalling.
On Friday, Yoon and Kim appeared on the Seoul Central District Court docket to face trial for obstruction of arrest and violations of the Political Funds Act, respectively. It was the primary time in Korea’s constitutional historical past {that a} former presidential couple stood trial on the identical day. This alone is nothing in need of a nationwide shame. Nevertheless, we’ve got but to completely look at the extent of the Yoon-Kim couple’s abuse of energy, contemplating the info rising from latest trials and the particular counsel’s investigation. Because the particular counsel probe now enters its closing phases, the group of investigators should give their all to uncover the reality.
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