South Korea’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, has been arrested after a court issued a warrant late Tuesday, following allegations of graft that she denies, according to a special prosecutor leading the investigation.
Kim becomes the first former first lady in South Korea’s history to be arrested. Her husband, ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, is already in custody facing trial after his ouster in April, linked to a failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.
Earlier Tuesday, Kim, dressed in a black suit, bowed as she arrived at court but did not answer questions from reporters or make a public statement. After the hearing, she was taken to a detention center in Seoul to await the court’s ruling, following customary procedures.
The charges against Kim are serious, potentially carrying years in prison. They include stock fraud, bribery, and illegal influence peddling, implicating business owners, religious figures, and political power brokers.
One notable allegation involves a luxury Van Cleef pendant valued at more than 60 million won ($43,000), which she reportedly wore at a NATO summit with her husband in 2022 but failed to declare in the couple’s financial disclosure, as required by law. Kim is also accused of accepting two Chanel bags valued at 20 million won and a diamond necklacefrom a religious group in exchange for influence favorable to the organization’s business interests.
The prosecution requested Kim’s arrest citing the risk that she might destroy evidence or interfere with the investigation, a concern the court accepted. A spokesperson for the special prosecutor’s office, Oh Jeong-hee, stated that Kim claimed the pendant was a fake purchased 20 years ago in Hong Kong. Prosecutors, however, insist the item was genuine and given to her by a domestic construction company.
Kim’s legal team has not commented following the arrest, though they have previously dismissed the accusations as unfounded.
Meanwhile, Yoon is on trial for insurrection, facing potential life imprisonment or even the death penalty. He also faces charges of abuse of power and other crimes, all of which he denies. The former president has refused to attend hearings or answer questions from prosecutors.
