Police clear ex-first lady of wrongdoing over naval ship party

▲ Former first lady Kim Keon Hee testifies during the insurrection trial of former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital on April 13, 2026, in this file photo provided by the court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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Police clear ex-first lady of wrongdoing over naval ship party

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- Police said Monday they will not pursue charges against former first lady Kim Keon Hee over a party held aboard a naval ship in 2023.

Kim and her husband, ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, have been under investigation for allegedly using military assets for private purposes during the naval ship party at the Jinhae Naval Base in August 2023.

A special police investigation team said in a notice to the press that they decided to close the case without pursuing charges due to a lack of evidence.

The team has been looking into various corruption allegations involving the former first lady that were previously unresolved by a special counsel team.

Police did, however, refer Kim Yong-hyun, a former chief of the Presidential Security Service, to the prosecution on suspicions of instigating abuse of power, along with his former deputy Kim Seong-hoon for abusing power by organizing the party.

The former deputy chief of the security service is accused of instructing staff to purchase premium fish, install karaoke equipment and prepare firecrackers for the party, among other allegations.

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