South Korean court approves arrest of ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol's wife amid bribery probe
In granting a special prosecutor's request for an arrest warrant near midnight, the Seoul Central District Court said Kim Keon-hee poses a risk of destroying evidence.
The investigation into Kim is one of three special prosecutor probes launched under Seoul's new liberal government targeting the presidency of Yoon, a conservative who was removed from office in April and rearrested last month over his brief imposition of martial law in December.
While Yoon's self-inflicted downfall extended a decades-long run of South Korean presidencies ending badly, he and Kim are the first presidential couple to be simultaneously arrested over criminal allegations.
Former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol (left) and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, arrive at a polling station in Seoul to cast their ballots in the presidential election in June. Photo: dpa
Yoon's surprising yet poorly planned power grab on December 3 came amid a seemingly routine stand-off with the liberals, whom he described as 'anti-state' forces abusing their legislative majority to block his agenda. Some political opponents have questioned whether Yoon's actions were at least partly motivated by growing allegations against his wife, which hurt his approval ratings and gave political ammunition to his rivals.
Kim did not speak to reporters as she arrived at the Seoul court on Tuesday for an hours-long hearing on the warrant request. She will be held at a detention centre in southern Seoul, separate from the facility holding Yoon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
7 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
South Korean ex-first lady Kim Keon-hee arrested amid bribery probe
Read more: South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon-hee was arrested late on August 12, 2025. A court issued a warrant relating to accusations of corruption, which she denies, a special prosecutor said. The arrests are part of a wide-reaching investigation into their abuse of power. Kim is South Korea's only former first lady to be arrested. She joins her husband, ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol, in jail as he faces trial following his ousting in April over a botched attempt to impose martial law in December.
South China Morning Post
37 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to begin Legislative Council nominations on October 24
Hong Kong will begin the nomination process for its next Legislative Council on October 24, with the current legislature standing prorogued on the same day, the government has announced. Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on Wednesday that the date was set after taking the election date of December 7 into consideration. In a letter from Chan to Legco President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, the city's second-highest official said that the current Legislative Council would recess on October 24 'to prevent giving undue advantage to incumbent members over other candidates during the election period, or creating an impression to that effect.' He added that the arrangement, which would be gazetted on Friday, was consistent with the procedure followed by the previous Legco. The letter did not specify the duration of the nomination period. For the previous election in 2021, it lasted 14 days. The legislature is currently on its final summer recess and will hold its first chamber meeting on September 3. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is scheduled to deliver his fourth Policy Address to the lawmakers in September.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong police foil phone scam, save elderly woman from HK$100,000 loss
Hong Kong police have foiled a 'guess who I am' phone scam, arresting two mainland Chinese men hired by a fraud syndicate and preventing an elderly woman from losing HK$100,000 (US$12,740). Chief Inspector Ma Suet-yiu of the force's Western district on Wednesday said the arrests were made after the 78-year-old woman received a phone call from a scammer impersonating her son on Monday. The fraudster claimed he was in police custody for a criminal case and asked for HK$100,000 in bail money. He told her that someone would come to her home to collect the cash. 'At first, the victim believed the story. But while preparing the money, she calmed down and grew suspicious. After confirming with her family, she realised it was a scam and immediately contacted police,' Ma said. Acting on intelligence analysis, officers from Western district's criminal investigation unit and task force staked out the woman's home in Sai Wan and arrested two men as they arrived to collect the money. Ma said the elderly woman did not suffer any monetary losses.
