(LEAD) Ex-President Yoon, wife face same court in separate trials

▲ Former President Yoon Suk Yeol (L) and his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, are seen in this composite file photo. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) ex-president-ex-first lady-trial

(LEAD) Ex-President Yoon, wife face same court in separate trials

(ATTN: UPDATES with ex-first lady's hearing; RECASTS headline, lead)

SEOUL, March 17 (Yonhap) -- Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, face separate trials at the same court Tuesday for the second time over corruption and other allegations.

Yoon is scheduled to appear at the Seoul Central District Court for his trial on charges of receiving free opinion polls from Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker, ahead of the 2022 presidential election.

He is accused of colluding with his wife to accept the polls in exchange for supporting former Rep. Kim Young-sun's nomination as a People Power Party candidate in the parliamentary by-elections later that year, following his presidential victory.

In an earlier trial, the court acquitted Kim of the identical charge, ruling that the polls could not be recognized as economically benefiting the couple.

Meanwhile, Kim appeared at the same court for her trial on charges of accepting various gifts allegedly in return for her influence in public office appointments.

Kim is accused of receiving jewelry worth over 100 million won (US$67,000), including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, from a construction company chairman in exchange for his son-in-law's appointment in public office, among other gifts from different people.

During the hearing, her lawyers admitted that she had accepted gifts but denied they were given in exchange for favors, arguing that special prosecutors have reconstructed the case without presenting direct evidence.

Correctional officials are expected to arrange the couple's appearance so that they do not cross paths at the court. They did not meet each other when they shared the same court date in November for separate trials.

Yoon and his wife have been held at separate detention centers as they stand trial on multiple criminal charges, including those stemming from the former president's bid to impose martial law in late 2024.

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