Seoul: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was subjected to over eight hours of questioning by a special counsel team on Saturday regarding corruption allegations involving his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee. This was Yoon's first appearance before special counsel Min Joong-ki's team, which has been investigating these allegations since July.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon is alleged to have been complicit when his wife reportedly received opinion polls valued at 270 million won (US$183,000) at no cost from a self-proclaimed power broker. Additionally, Kim is alleged to have accepted a painting worth 140 million won from a former prosecutor. Yoon also faces accusations of violating the Public Official Election Act by allegedly making a false statement about his wife during a 2021 presidential debate.

Min's team is further examining whether Yoon had any involvement in Kim's alleged receipt of luxury gifts, including those from Lee Bae-yong, the former head of the National Education Commission, purportedly in exchange for favors. Yoon has denied all allegations through his legal representatives.

When questioned by reporters about Yoon's awareness of Kim's acceptance of these luxury gifts, his lawyer stated that the former president was "completely unaware." The interrogation on Saturday is likely Yoon's final appearance before the special counsel, as the investigation is set to conclude on December 28.