Imprisonment of South Korea's former first lady due to court-issued warrant.
South Korea's former First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, was arrested on August 12, 2025, on charges including involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, bribery, election meddling, and influence peddling. The arrest warrant was issued by the Seoul Central District Court [1][3].
Kim has been held in solitary confinement in Seoul Southern Detention Center since her arrest. She has been questioned multiple times by the special counsel team but has largely remained silent during interrogations [1].
The charges against Kim focus primarily on graft related to stock fraud and bribery combined with abuse of influence in politics and elections. The luxury Van Cleef pendant, two Chanel bags valued at 20 million won, and a diamond necklace are among the items at the heart of the latest allegations against her [1][3].
Kim is the only former South Korean first lady to be arrested. These charges add to the ones she already faces, including stock fraud, bribery, and illegal influence peddling [1].
Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim's husband, is also in jail facing trial. He was ousted in April over a botched bid to impose martial law in December [1].
The special prosecutor appointed in early June issued a brief message regarding the warrant, stating their reasons for seeking Kim's arrest after Tuesday's hearing. The prosecution seeks Kim's arrest due to the risk of her destroying evidence and interfering with the investigation [1].
No further details regarding the charges against Kim have been provided by the prosecutor's office. Kim arrived at court wearing a black suit but did not answer questions or make a statement [1].
This case marks a historic precedent as Kim is the first former first lady in South Korea to be arrested. The charges have implicated business owners, religious figures, and a political power broker [1][3].
[1] Lee, J. (2025). Former South Korean First Lady Arrested on Corruption Charges. The Korea Times. [3] Park, H. (2025). South Korea's Former First Lady Faces New Corruption Charges. The New York Times.
The case involving South Korea's former First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, has escalated, as she now faces new charges related to policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news, stemming from allegations of stock fraud, bribery, election meddling, and influence peddling. These charges have led to Kim's arrest and solitary confinement, and her silence during interrogations continues to fuel speculation [1][3].
