In a dramatic and unprecedented development, a South Korean court has ordered the arrest of Kim Keon Hee, the wife of the country’s jailed former president, Yoon Suk Yeol. The arrest, which came late Tuesday after a five-hour court hearing, marks a stunning fall from grace for the former first lady and an unprecedented moment in the nation’s political history, with both a former president and his spouse now in custody.
The Seoul Central District Court granted the special prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant, citing the risk that Kim could destroy evidence. The charges against her are extensive, ranging from stock manipulation and bribery to meddling in political candidate selections. The investigation is one of three special prosecutor probes launched by South Korea’s new liberal government targeting the presidency of Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office in April following his botched attempt to impose martial law.
The arrest creates an extraordinary situation in which both members of a former presidential couple are now simultaneously in jail. Yoon, who was sent back to prison last month, faces charges of insurrection, which could result in a life sentence.
The allegations against Kim Keon Hee have been a source of controversy for years, casting a shadow over her husband’s presidency. She is accused of participating in a stock price-rigging scheme involving a local BMW dealership, an offense that allegedly took place before her husband became president but which continued to draw scrutiny throughout his term. She is also linked to multiple corruption allegations, including claims that she received luxury gifts, such as two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, as bribes from a religious official in exchange for business favors.
During Tuesday’s court hearing, Kim appeared solemn but denied the charges against her. She briefly addressed reporters, offering a vague apology for “causing public concern,” but also hinting at her innocence by portraying herself as “someone insignificant.” However, this did not sway the court, which approved her arrest.
The investigation is a key part of the new liberal government’s agenda, and it highlights a recurring pattern in South Korean politics: a cycle of scandal and imprisonment for former presidents and their families. While several former presidents have faced legal troubles, Kim’s arrest marks the first time a former first lady has been jailed.
The investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, can hold Kim for up to 20 days before formally filing charges. She is being held at a detention center in southern Seoul, separate from the facility holding her husband. For now, South Korea watches as the legal drama unfolds, with the fate of its former first couple in the hands of the courts.