South Korea's Ex-First Lady Arrested Amid Corruption Scandal

Kim Keon Hee, the wife of jailed ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested over multiple allegations, including stock manipulation and bribery, following a contentious court hearing that led to her detention due to evidence tampering concerns.

In a significant development for South Korean politics, Kim Keon Hee, the wife of imprisoned former president Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested after being charged with stock manipulation and bribery. The arrest follows a four-hour court hearing in Seoul where Kim denied all allegations, but the court issued a detention warrant, fearing she might destroy evidence.

This unprecedented situation marks the first instance in South Korea's history where both a former president and their spouse have been incarcerated. Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested in January for his alleged role in a failed martial law attempt, which incited chaos and ultimately led to his removal from office.

Kim, 52, is accused of profiting over 800 million won (approximately $577,940 or £428,000) through a price-fixing scheme related to stocks of Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in South Korea. Allegedly, this misconduct took place prior to her husband’s presidency but continued to cast a long shadow during his term.

In addition to stock manipulation, Kim faces claims of accepting bribes, including valuable items like Chanel bags and a diamond necklace from the controversial Unification Church in exchange for business favors. Other charges involve her alleged interference in candidate nominations during the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and the 2023 general elections.

Dressed in a black suit, Kim appeared solemn during the hearing and reportedly expressed regrets for the trouble she has caused, despite downplaying her own significance. During his time in office, Yoon had vetoed three different opposition-led bills that demanded a special counsel investigation into allegations involving Kim, with his final veto occurring just before his declaration of martial law last year.

Following Yoon's exit, a special counsel was established in June, led by his political rival, Lee Jae Myung, now the sitting president. This case continues to unfold, reflecting the ongoing turbulence in South Korean politics.