Court in South Korea instigates apprehension of spouse of former imprisoned President Yoon Suk Yeol
In a historic turn of events in South Korea, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, has been ordered for arrest by a South Korean court. This marks the first time a former South Korean first lady has been detained on such charges [1].
Kim is facing specific charges including stock manipulation, election meddling, and bribery [1][2]. Evidence presented against her includes allegations of accepting high-end items such as two Chanel bags valued at about 20 million won (approximately US$14,500) and a diamond necklace from a religious group, purportedly as bribes in exchange for using her influence favorably toward their business interests.
The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant on August 12, 2025, and she has since been held in detention, questioned multiple times by a special counsel team [1]. The investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki questioned Kim for about seven hours before deciding to seek her arrest.
Kim is linked to multiple corruption allegations, including receiving luxury gifts via a fortuneteller acting as an intermediary for a Unification Church official. She is also suspected of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme tied to a local BMW dealership company [1].
Meanwhile, Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative former president, was removed from office in April and rearrested last month over his brief imposition of martial law in December. He has resisted investigators' attempts to compel him to answer questions about his wife [3].
This arrest comes as part of three special prosecutor probes launched under Seoul's new liberal government targeting the presidency of Yoon. Myung Tae-kyun, an election broker, is accused of conducting free opinion surveys for Yoon using manipulated data that possibly helped him win the party's presidential primaries [4].
As the investigation into Kim unfolds, she has reportedly denied the accusations, claiming that the necklace she wore in Europe was not an authentic piece but a borrowed fake [5]. Kim spoke briefly to reporters after her questioning last week, issuing a vague apology for causing public concern but also hinting that she would deny the allegations against her.
Kim will be held at a detention center in southern Seoul, separate from the facility holding Yoon Suk Yeol. The trial for both Kim and Yoon is expected to be a high-stakes event, with Yoon currently facing a trial on rebellion and other charges [6].
Sources:
- Yonhap News
- The Korea Herald
- Reuters
- The New York Times
- CNN
- BBC News
- The arrest of Kim Keon Hee, former South Korean first lady, over charges such as stock manipulation, election meddling, and bribery, raises questions about policy and legislation surrounding crime and justice in the country.
- The investigation into Kim Keon Hee's alleged involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme and her acceptance of high-end items as bribes highlights the intersection of businesses, politics, and crime in South Korea.
- AI-driven investigative tools may play a significant role in uncovering intricate networks of corruption, as evidenced by the special prosecutor's probe into the Kim Keon Hee case, which allegedly uncovered an intermediary using superstition for bribery.
- The criminal cases against Kim Keon Hee and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, reflect the broader context of war-and-conflicts, political turmoil, and general news that have unfolded in South Korea in recent years.
