Wife Of South Korea’s Jailed Ex-President Arrested

Kim Keon Hee, wife of South Korea’s imprisoned former president Yoon Suk Yeol, has been taken into custody on multiple charges, including stock manipulation, bribery, and political interference.

During a four-hour court hearing in Seoul on Tuesday, Kim denied all allegations. However, the court granted a detention warrant, citing concerns that she might destroy evidence. Her arrest marks the first time in South Korea’s history that both a former president and first lady have been jailed.

Yoon has been in detention since January, facing trial over an attempted martial law declaration last year that threw the country into political turmoil and led to his removal from office.

Prosecutors allege that Kim, 52, earned more than 800 million won (about $578,000) through a price-rigging scheme involving the shares of Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership. The alleged scheme began before Yoon’s presidency but persisted as a controversy during his tenure.

Kim is also accused of accepting luxury gifts, including two Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace, from the Unification Church in exchange for business favours. Additional charges include interference in candidate selections during the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and the 2024 general elections.

Arriving at Tuesday’s hearing in a black suit and skirt, Kim addressed reporters briefly, saying, “I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance.”

During his presidency, Yoon blocked three opposition-led bills seeking a special counsel investigation into the allegations against his wife, with the last veto coming in November, just a week before he imposed martial law. A special counsel was eventually appointed in June, shortly after Yoon’s political rival, Lee Jae Myung, assumed office.