Prosecutors in South Korea storm the headquarters of a political party following the detention of the former first lady.
In a significant turn of events, South Korea's former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, was arrested by the Seoul Central District Court on August 12, 2025, on charges including stock manipulation, election meddling, and bribery[1][2][4]. The arrest marks an unprecedented moment in South Korean history, as Kim is the first former first lady to be detained and questioned as a criminal suspect on such charges[1][3].
Kim is currently held in solitary confinement at Seoul Southern Detention Center. She has undergone multiple interrogations by the special counsel team but has largely exercised her right to remain silent, refusing to answer most questions during the sessions, leading to early termination of some interrogations[2]. She was scheduled for further questioning on August 23, 2025, but did not attend due to poor health, citing low blood pressure and anxiety disorders; a new date has been set for continued interrogation on the following Monday[4].
The election meddling allegations focus on Kim’s involvement, alongside her husband former President Yoon Suk Yeol (who has been in detention since July 10), in exchanging favors for securing political nominations, notably the nomination of People Power Party Rep. Kim Young-sun for a 2022 parliamentary by-election. The case also includes accusations of receiving free opinion polls from a power broker, Myung Tae-kyun, before the 2022 presidential election[2].
Prosecutors have submitted an 848-page opinion outlining Kim's alleged "unlawful acts"[3]. Additionally, South Korean prosecutors raided the headquarters of the People Power Party on Wednesday as part of the broader investigation following her arrest[5]. Kim can be held for up to 20 days as prosecutors prepare to formally indict her[6].
The charges against Kim include violations of capital market and financial investment laws, as well as political funds laws. She is also accused of interfering in the nomination process for MPs in Yoon's party, a violation of election laws[7]. No new arrests or charges have been made in the current paragraph.
References: 1. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-former-first-lady-arrested-over-graft-scandal-2025-08-12/ 2. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62811036 3. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/world/asia/south-korea-kim-keon-hee-arrest.html 4. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/12/south-koreas-former-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-arrested-over-graft-scandal 5. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/08/13/south-korea-prosecutors-raid-ruling-party-over-bribery-scandal 6. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-12/south-korea-s-former-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-arrested-on-charges 7. https://www.dw.com/en/south-koreas-former-first-lady-arrested-over-graft-scandal/a-61300080
