Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - Kim Keon Hee, former first lady and wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested as part of a sweeping investigation into alleged bribery, stock manipulation, and political meddling.
The Seoul Central District Court approved a special
prosecutor’s request for her arrest late Tuesday, citing concerns she might
destroy evidence. Kim, who arrived at court without speaking to reporters, is
now being held at a detention facility in southern Seoul, separate from her
husband. She faces further questioning Thursday, with prosecutors able to
detain her for up to 20 days before filing charges.
Her arrest marks the first time in South Korea’s history that
both a former president and first lady have been jailed simultaneously. Yoon, a
conservative leader removed from office in April, was rearrested last month
over his failed imposition of martial law in December 2024.
Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki’s team is probing multiple
allegations against Kim, including:
1.Pressuring the conservative People Power Party to nominate
a specific candidate in a 2022 legislative by-election, allegedly at the
request of election broker Myung Tae-kyun.
2.Accepting luxury gifts, possibly via a Unification Church
intermediary seeking government favors.
3. Involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme tied to a
BMW dealership.
Investigators this week arrested one of Kim’s close
associates, who allegedly used his ties to her to secure millions in business
investments, and raided a construction firm suspected of buying her a $43,000
luxury necklace. Kim denies the necklace was genuine.
Yoon, during his presidency, blocked all attempts to
investigate his wife, calling the allegations political attacks. But following
his downfall, new liberal President Lee Jae Myung authorized three special
probes—into Yoon’s martial law order, the accusations against Kim, and the
alleged cover-up of a marine’s drowning during a 2023 flood rescue.
Yoon’s martial law decree lasted only hours before lawmakers overturned it, breaking through military blockades. He was impeached in December and removed from office in April. Now back in prison, Yoon faces charges of rebellion and continues to resist questioning about his wife.
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