Court orders detention of Yoon Suk-yeol's wife for allegations of bribery and other criminal offenses in South Korea
In a historic turn of events, former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, have been arrested simultaneously on criminal charges. This marks the first time a presidential couple has faced arrest together.
The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for Kim Keon-hee, following allegations that she received luxury gifts from a fortune-teller acting as an intermediary for a Unification Church official. Kim will be detained at a detention center in southern Seoul, separate from where her husband is being held.
Yoon was impeached by legislators on December 14, 2024, and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April. His downfall came amid a series of scandals, including his controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024.
The martial law order, which aimed to suppress opposition political activities, was widely viewed as an attempt to maintain Yoon's grip on power by sidelining legislative opposition and controlling political dissent. The move was met with strong resistance, culminating in the National Assembly unanimously voting to lift the martial law within hours of its implementation.
Yoon repeatedly dismissed calls to investigate his wife, labeling them as political attacks without merit. However, the investigation into Kim Keon-hee is one of three probes launched by special prosecutors under the new liberal government in Seoul.
Kim is accused of several crimes, including bribery, financial asset manipulation, and interference in the selection of a candidate. She is also suspected of involvement in a stock price manipulation network linked to a local BMW dealership company. One of Kim's close associates was arrested upon his arrival from Vietnam for business investment suspicions.
Investigators raided a construction company following allegations of a luxury necklace purchase linked to Kim and the hiring of a president's son-in-law. The necklace in question was allegedly the same one Kim wore during a trip to Europe in 2022. Kim has denied the allegations, stating that the necklace she wore was an authentic piece.
Another figure under investigation is election intermediary Myung Tae-kyun, who is accused of conducting free opinion polls for Yoon using manipulated data. Myung is also suspected of helping Yoon win the party's presidential primaries before his election as president.
The Unification Church official linked to corruption allegations involving Kim Keon-hee has not been named. The investigations into these matters continue, providing a complex and evolving narrative in South Korea's political landscape.
[1] [https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-yoon-ousted-president-arrested-2025-05-06/] [2] [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59078006] [3] [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/15/south-korea-s-yoon-declares-martial-law-amid-political-crisis]
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