Key facts
- Prosecutors raided the home of Kim Ok-suk, wife of late former President Roh Tae-woo, on Friday.
- The raid is linked to suspicions of tax evasion and violating laws on concealing criminal proceeds.
- Civic groups filed a complaint against Kim, her daughter Soh-yeong, and son Jae-heon.
- The alleged slush fund's existence emerged during the divorce proceedings of Roh Soh-yeong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won.
- Roh Tae-woo, who served as president from 1988-1993, died in 2021 and was previously involved in a slush fund scandal.
Prosecutors on Friday raided the Seoul residence of Kim Ok-suk, the wife of the late former President Roh Tae-woo, amid allegations that her family had amassed a secret fund. The search and seizure operation at Kim's home is reportedly connected to suspicions of tax evasion and violations of laws concerning the concealment of criminal proceeds.
The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by civic groups against Kim, her daughter Roh Soh-yeong, and her son Roh Jae-heon, who currently serves as South Korea's ambassador to China. The existence of the alleged slush fund reportedly came to light during the contentious divorce proceedings between Roh Soh-yeong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won.
During the divorce trial, Roh Soh-yeong claimed that her father, the late President Roh Tae-woo, had transferred 30 billion won (approximately $21.7 million) to Chey Tae-won's father, asserting this contribution aided SK Group's business expansion. While the Supreme Court confirmed the divorce in October, it did not make a ruling on the existence of the alleged fund, and the legal battle over property division is ongoing.
Roh Tae-woo, who was president from 1988 to 1993, died in 2021. He was previously embroiled in a significant slush fund scandal after his presidency, leading to a 1997 sentence requiring the forfeiture of 262.8 billion won in illegal funds. Approximately 240 billion won was recovered from Roh and his family, with the remaining amount paid by relatives in 2013.