Warrant granted for arrest and detention of former first lady by the court
In a historic turn of events, former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee was arrested on August 12, 2025, marking the first time a former presidential spouse has been detained in the country's history. The Seoul Central District Court granted the arrest warrant, citing risks of evidence tampering and based on prosecutors’ extensive 848-page indictment detailing her alleged unlawful acts.
Kim faces multiple serious charges including stock price manipulation, bribery, political funds law violations, election interference, and improper religious lobbying. A key piece of evidence involves a high-value antique necklace controversy connected to allegations of evidence tampering, as well as luxury gifts such as a Vacheron Constantin watch possibly linked to business favors.
Her arrest occurs amid an ongoing political and legal crisis: her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached, removed from office, and has been detained since July 10, 2025, making them the first former president and first lady simultaneously behind bars in South Korean history.
During the court hearing, the special counsel highlighted concerns over possible destruction of evidence if Kim were not detained. The court issued the warrant nine hours after the hearing, following a review of arguments presented by the special counsel team and Kim's legal representatives.
Kim made a five-minute testimony at the end of the hearing, denying all charges. After the hearing, she exited the court building at 2:35 p.m. without answering questions. The special counsel submitted an 848-page report to the court to support its arguments.
Following her arrest, Kim was taken to the Seoul Southern Detention Center in Guro-gu, western Seoul. She will be held at the center's waiting cell until she is admitted to a detention cell on Wednesday. Kim's lawyers claimed detention would be unfair due to her poor health.
Investigations and legal proceedings against Kim are actively ongoing. Prosecutors continue to investigate Kim's role in alleged stock manipulation tied to imported car dealer Deutsch Motors and bribery involving religious figures, with further summonses expected. The controversial necklace case involves claims that Kim presented a fake piece as evidence and inconsistencies about its origin date, intensifying suspicions of evidence tampering.
Kim has maintained a low profile during questioning, expressed some apology for causing trouble, but has not fully cooperated with investigators. This is the first time a former first lady in Korea has been in custody. This event also marks the first time a presidential couple has been jailed simultaneously in Korea.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-former-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-arrested-2025-08-12/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62766559 [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/12/south-korea-former-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-arrested-for-bribery-charges [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/world/asia/south-korea-kim-keon-hee.html
- The general-news outlets, such as Reuters, BBC, Al Jazeera, and The New York Times, are reporting on the arrest of former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who faces multiple charges that range from stock price manipulation to political funds law violations.
- The crime-and-justice sector is also monitoring the ongoing fraud investigation against Kim, which includes allegations of bribery, election interference, and improper religious lobbying, along with disputes over a high-value antique necklace and luxury gifts.
