Police Clear Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee but Refer Two Ex-Security Chiefs for Prosecution Over 2023 Naval Party

Police said on Monday they will not pursue charges against former first lady Kim Keon Hee over a party held aboard a naval ship in 2023. The announcement that police will not pursue charges against Kim Keon Hee was made on May 11, 2026. A special police investigation team decided to close the case without pursuing charges against Kim Keon Hee due to a lack of evidence and issued a notice to the press about closing the case, Yonhap reported.

Kim Keon Hee and her husband Yoon Suk Yeol were under investigation for allegedly using military assets for private purposes. The party aboard a naval ship took place at Jinhae Naval Base in August 2023. The special police investigation team has been looking into various corruption allegations involving the former first lady that were previously unresolved by a special counsel team.

Even as it closed the case on Kim Keon Hee, police referred Kim Yong-hyun, a former chief of the Presidential Security Service, to the prosecution on suspicions of instigating abuse of power. Police also referred Kim Seong-hoon, former deputy chief of the Presidential Security Service, to the prosecution for abusing power by organizing the party.

Kim Seong-hoon is accused of instructing staff to purchase premium fish for the party, instructing staff to install karaoke equipment for the party and instructing staff to prepare firecrackers for the party.

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee testified during the insurrection trial of former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital on April 13, 2026. A photo of Kim Keon Hee testifying on April 13, 2026, was provided by the court, Yonhap reported.