Police raid headquarters of South Korean political party following detention of former first lady
Kim Keon Hee, the former First Lady of South Korea and wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested on August 12, 2022, on charges including bribery, stock manipulation, corruption, and election meddling. The arrest warrant was issued due to a high risk of evidence tampering.
The charges against Kim include violations of capital market and financial investment laws, as well as political funds laws. She allegedly manipulated the stock price of Deutsch Motors between 2009 and 2012 and unlawfully interfered with nominations related to the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and 2024 general elections. Additionally, she is accused of accepting high-value luxury gifts through intermediaries.
This arrest marks the first time in South Korea's history that a former First Lady has been detained. At the same time, her husband Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and removed from office in April 2025 following an unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, remains in jail on separate charges related to rebellion and misuse of power. Together, they represent the first former presidential couple to be imprisoned simultaneously.
The investigation into Kim Keon Hee forms part of a high-profile probe led by special prosecutors under South Korea’s new liberal government. This follows years of corruption allegations against the couple. Prosecutors have submitted extensive documentation—an 848-page report—detailing her alleged unlawful acts.
Prosecutors have linked the arrest and investigation to a broader election meddling case. They have conducted raids on the headquarters of the main opposition People Power Party (formerly linked to Yoon) to gather evidence related to Kim’s interference in candidate selection and political funding laws.
The Lee Jae Myung administration, which won the snap presidential election, is accused of political persecution and retaliation against the opposition. The opposition leader, Song Eon-seog, criticized the raid on the People Power Party as "gangster behavior." Yoon endorsed the People Power Party's candidate in the snap presidential election.
In summary, the arrest of Kim Keon Hee and the raid on the People Power Party office occurred a day apart, and the investigation forms part of a high-profile probe led by special prosecutors under South Korea’s new liberal government. The charges against Kim include bribery, stock manipulation, corruption, interfering with election candidate nominations, violations of capital market and political fund laws. The investigation is ongoing, with evidence including luxury gifts received via intermediaries, and the opposition continues to accuse the current administration of political persecution.
- The investigation into Kim Keon Hee, the former First Lady, encompasses allegations of bribery, stock manipulation, corruption, and election interference, as well as violations of both capital market and political fund laws in the context of general-news and crime-and-justice.
- The ongoing probe into Kim Keon Hee, under South Korea's new liberal government, also involves accusations of unlawful interference in candidate selection and political funding laws, which fall under the category of general-news and crime-and-justice.
