&w=3840&q=100)
How a diamond pendant led to South Korea's former first lady's imprisonment
South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors, in Seoul, South Korea, August 12, 2025. Pool Photo via AP
The simultaneous imprisonment of both a former president and his spouse marks rare chapter in South Korea's political history.
Kim Keon-hee, the 52-year-old wife of ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol, was formally arrested after a late-night ruling by the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday.
The court authorised the special prosecutor's request for an arrest warrant, citing 'concerns about evidence destruction' as the justification for placing her in detention.
The arrest follows a sweeping set of investigations initiated by liberal President Lee Jae-yung shortly after his election in June.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
These inquiries target alleged misconduct during Yoon's presidency, which ended abruptly in April when he was removed from office by the Constitutional Court after his impeachment.
Yoon's downfall stemmed from his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in December last year — a decision that not only collapsed within hours but also triggered political outrage and set off a series of legal troubles for both him and his wife.
While Yoon's imprisonment is linked to charges of insurrection and abuse of power, Kim faces multiple criminal accusations spanning bribery, stock manipulation, and unlawful political influence.
She now occupies a cell in Seoul's Nambu Detention Centre, while her husband remains in custody at Seoul Detention Centre.
How it came to Kim Keon-hee being arrested
On the day of the ruling, Kim arrived at the court dressed in a black suit. She bowed to reporters gathered outside but did not respond to questions.
Inside the courtroom, the proceedings lasted over four hours as prosecutors presented evidence and argued that she posed a serious risk of destroying documents or interfering with witnesses.
Judge Jeong Jae-wook accepted these arguments, noting that the potential for evidence tampering warranted her detention. The decision followed earlier questioning by investigators, including a seven-hour interrogation session the previous week.
Kim did speak briefly to journalists after that earlier questioning, offering a general apology for 'causing public concern' but adding that she saw herself as 'someone insignificant.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, August 12, 2025. Pool via Reuters
Kim expressed discontent about the scope of the charges, telling the judge she was 'upset that even issues from before my marriage keep being brought up.'
Her legal representatives have consistently denied all charges, labelling many of the allegations as unfounded.
Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on YTN radio, 'I would like to express that I hope the special prosecutor's investigation proceeds normally and fairly in accordance with the law and regulations.'
The charges against Kim Keon-hee: Explained
Allegations of stock manipulation
One of the most serious allegations against Kim involves claims that she participated in a stock price manipulation scheme tied to Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea.
Prosecutors allege that between 2009 and 2012, Kim conspired with others to artificially raise the company's share prices, generating profits of more than 800 million won (£428,000).
These accusations are not new — rumours and media reports about her potential involvement in financial irregularities had circulated during Yoon's presidency, but formal legal action was repeatedly blocked while he was in office.
Yoon had dismissed calls for an investigation as political attacks from opponents.
The new administration has reopened the case, and prosecutors believe they now have sufficient evidence to press charges.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Claims of unlawful political influence
Another significant charge is that Kim and her husband exerted improper pressure on the conservative People Power Party to secure the nomination of a specific candidate during a 2022 legislative by-election.
This effort was allegedly coordinated at the request of political broker Myung Tae-kyun.
Myung himself faces accusations of running manipulated opinion surveys for Yoon during the presidential primaries — surveys that may have bolstered Yoon's chances of winning the nomination.
Prosecutors say these free polling services, valued at over 270 million won, amounted to illegal political funding.
The allegation links Kim directly to a broader network of political interference that investigators claim compromised the fairness of party candidate selection processes.
Bribery and luxury gifts
Prosecutors also accuse Kim of accepting high-value gifts from various sources in exchange for providing favourable treatment in business or political matters.
Among the items under scrutiny is Van Cleef & Arpels' Snowflake Pendant (18 karat white gold with brilliant-cut diamonds) reportedly worth over 60 million won ($43,000), which Kim wore while accompanying Yoon to a Nato summit in 2022.
The pendant was not declared in the couple's legally required financial disclosure. According to the prosecution, it was supplied by a domestic construction company seeking to secure advantages.
The company's chairman is alleged to have purchased the item, and investigators are examining whether its gifting was connected to the appointment of the chairman's son-in-law as chief of staff to then-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo shortly before the summit.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Kim has rejected the claim, telling prosecutors that the necklace was 'a fake bought 20 years ago in Hong Kong.' The prosecution, however, maintains that the piece is genuine.
In addition to the pendant, Kim is accused of receiving two Chanel handbags worth a combined 20 million won (£10,700) and a diamond necklace from members of the Unification Church.
Investigators allege these gifts were arranged through a shaman intermediary and tied to the church's interest in development projects in Cambodia.
Other corruption-linked investigations
Earlier on the day of her arrest, one of her close associates was detained after returning from Vietnam.
Prosecutors suspect this individual used their connection to Kim to obtain millions of dollars in investment for a financially struggling company.
Investigators have also conducted raids on multiple business premises, including a construction firm believed to be linked to some of the luxury gifts.
In one instance, they are investigating whether a $43,000 necklace worn by Kim on a European trip in 2022 was connected to political favours. Kim has maintained that the jewellery was not authentic.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
What next for Kim Keon-hee & Yoon Suk-yeol?
Kim's arrest comes as part of a trio of major special prosecutor cases approved by President Lee Jae Myung in June.
The first involves Yoon's martial law declaration in December 2024, which lasted only a few hours before being overturned by lawmakers who broke through a military blockade to hold an emergency vote.
The second focuses on the allegations against Kim.
The third examines the drowning of a marine during a flood rescue in 2023, which critics allege Yoon's administration attempted to cover up.
Yoon's martial law decision was made during escalating disputes with liberal lawmakers, whom he described as 'anti-state' actors obstructing his agenda.
Some of his opponents have argued that his drastic action may have been partly influenced by growing scrutiny of his wife's alleged misconduct.
Following the failed martial law attempt, Yoon was impeached on December 14, 2024, and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025.
After a brief release in March, he was rearrested in July and now faces trial on rebellion and other charges. He has consistently refused to attend hearings or answer prosecutors' questions, including those concerning Kim's activities.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
While the country has a history of prosecuting former leaders, the incarceration of both a former president and a former first lady at the same time is without precedent.
Kim's career before entering politics was in the arts sector, where she ran an exhibition company.
During Yoon's presidency, she was seen by some observers as an influential figure behind the scenes.
However, her time as first lady was marked by controversies, including the 'Dior bag scandal' — a separate incident that prosecutors are now revisiting.
In recent months, her academic credentials also came under fire, with both her master's and doctoral degrees revoked following findings of plagiarism.
Under South Korean law, prosecutors can detain Kim for up to 20 days before formally filing charges. During this period, investigators are expected to conduct further interrogations and review additional evidence.
If indicted, she could face multiple years in prison if found guilty on charges ranging from financial crimes to bribery and political interference.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The special prosecutor's team, led by Min Joong-ki, has pledged to conduct a thorough inquiry in accordance with the law.
Also Watch:
With inputs from agencies
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 minutes ago
- First Post
In the shadow of Partition's shadow: Stories of loss, hope and resilience
The Partition of India in 1947 was a painful turning point in history that forced millions to flee their homes. Speaking to Firstpost's Bhanu Pratap, many shared haunting memories of leaving everything behind with the fragile hope of starting anew from the dark shadow. Refugees crowd onto a train as they try to flee India near New Delhi in September 1947. Some 15 million people crossed new borders during the violent partition of British-ruled India. At times, mobs targeted and killed passengers travelling in either direction; the trains carrying their corpses became known as "ghost trains." File Image/AP The Partition of India was far more complex than the mere drawing of borders — it shattered homes, tore families apart, and scarred millions for life. Arguably the largest displacement of humans in modern times, the Partition that brought Independence to India as well as Pakistan forced millions to leave behind everything familiar and step into the unknown with fear and hope intertwined. Speaking to Firstpost, many families bravely recounted their horrors and shared deeply personal memories. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the Partition of India in 1947, an estimated 10 to 15 million people were uprooted and forced to migrate across the hastily drawn borders, marking one of the largest mass migrations in human history. The borders, hurriedly drawn by British lawyer Radcliffe, left scores of lives irreversibly altered. 'Bogies full of dead bodies… terrible times' CL Madaan, an 83-year-old resident of Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar, recalled the horrors of Partition to Firstpost, 'When Partition happened, I was just 3 or 4 years old. I don't remember everything, but some glimpses of those horrific times have stayed with me. I remember my parents hurriedly carrying our belongings as we left our native village near Rawalpindi. We boarded a train, and when it reached Amritsar, we got down, took a lorry, and eventually reached Delhi.' He described the difficult conditions that followed, 'The government provided us with a small tent in a place called Shanti Nagar. My siblings, parents, and I lived in that tiny tent. We stayed in that camp for 30 years until the government allotted us a 160-gaz plot here in Mukherjee Nagar.' CL Madaan, a retired government employee, speaking to Firstpost's Bhanu Pratap. 'We all bore the pain of losing our homes, our villages, and some even lost loved ones,' he said to Firstpost. 'But we adapted to our new life here. Despite the hardships, we lived together happily, without divisions among us.' Meher Chand, born in 1936 and a resident of North Delhi, said his family migrated from Dera Ghazi Khan. 'When we arrived here, trains kept coming loaded with entire bogies full of dead bodies from the violence back there. I remember military troops, including Gorkhas, were assigned to protect us and escort us safely to Hindustan when we left Dera Ghazi Khan. It was a terrible time. We had to leave the city, which was on the frontier, and it was a long journey.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Recalling the horrors of Partition, Chand shared, 'A father and his son who lived next door went to Dera Ghazi Khan to buy something. They were killed there, and their families were not even able to see their bodies. This terrorised the few of us who remained.' Maher Chand, a ex-postman, now lives a retired life in North Delhi. Image: FP 'A train to Patiala… and then to dirty, diseased-filled shelters' A shopkeeper, who wished to remain anonymous, told Firstpost that his grandfather and grandmother were both killed during Partition violence in Pakistan. His father somehow survived and escaped their native village, Mulhal Mughlan near Chakwal, rebuilding his life in Delhi, where the shopkeeper was later born. Ninety-year-old Arjan Singh, who was just 11 when he migrated from Dera Ismail Khan, still vividly remembers the Partition. 'I am actually a Sardar. When we migrated, Hindus and Sikhs travelled together. At first, we walked with the group. I remember taking a boat to cross a large river. After that, we reached a railway station, I can't recall which city, and then boarded a train to Patiala.' People watch the Heritage run of an Indian Railway coach hauled by a 1947 model steam locomotive engine. AFP) Singh described those times as extremely difficult. In search of a better life, they first went to Jhansi, then Bareilly, feeling confused and suffering, before finally settling in Delhi. 'In Delhi, the government later allotted us a barrack to live in. It was very small, overcrowded, and the area was dirty, with diseases spreading all around. Those were really tough times. We lived in those barracks for 25 to 26 years,' he said to Firspost, adding that his family was later allotted an 80-gaz plot in Indra Vihar in North Delhi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The migration was accompanied by brutal communal violence, leading to the deaths of an estimated 200,000 to 2 million people. Many were killed in riots, massacres, and attacks along migration routes, while countless others suffered abductions and other atrocities during this tragic upheaval. This photo taken in August 1947 shows Indian soldiers walking through the debris of a building in the Chowk Bijli Wala area of Amristar during unrest following the Partition of India and Pakistan. (Photo by AFP) The Partition of India remains a dark chapter in history, a profound human tragedy marked by massive migration and unimaginable suffering, that must be remembered and passed on to future generations.
NDTV
2 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Not Going To Lose Our Cool": Supreme Court On Another Faulty High Court Order
Days after controversy over Allahabad High Court judge's faulty order, the Supreme Court bench of Justices JB Pardiwallah and R Mahadevan on Wednesday set aside a Rajasthan High Court order denying anticipatory bail to a couple in a case which was found to be a civil dispute but was given a criminal colour. Justice JB Pardiwallah remarked that he was "controlling like anything" and would laugh it off this time. "We are not going to lose our cool today. Today, we are controlling like anything. The medicine is to laugh," he said, before bursting into laughter on reading the case file with the same mistake that had triggered him to bar a high court judge from hearing criminal cases till he retires. The Supreme Court last week slammed Justice Prashant Kumar of the Allahabad High Court for his remarks made in a judgment suggesting that criminal prosecution may be permitted to recover money as an alternative remedy in a civil suit. The same bench of Justice JB Pardiwallah had ordered the removal of criminal cases from Justice Kumar's roster after finding that he had allowed criminal prosecution to continue in a purely civil dispute. This move had sparked controversy as 13 judges from the Allahabad High Court then wrote to Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, saying that a Chief Justice of a high court is the master of the roster in the high court and Justice Pardiwallah's order was a judicial overreach. CJI Gavai then sent the case back to Justice Pardiwallah's bench of reconsideration. On August 4, the bench of Justice Pardiwallah rolled back the directive that had barred the Allahabad high court judge from hearing any criminal cases for the remainder of his tenure and ordered him to sit with a senior colleague to "learn the nuances of law." The controversy had barely subsided when another such case, this time from the Rajasthan High Court, came in front of the same bench. The top court was hearing an appeal by a couple against the Rajasthan High Court's refusal to grant them anticipatory bail in a case arising from an alleged unpaid amount for a plywood consignment. The complaint claimed Rs 3.5 lakh had been paid, but the balance of Rs 12.5 lakh remained unpaid. A first information report (FIR) was registered against the couple under Sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. The top court noted that even on a plain reading of the case, the only possible allegation was cheating. It was observed that the offence of criminal breach of trust could not arise once there was a sale transaction. "It is but obvious that the only submission before the High Court could be that it is a case of civil dispute. There is no question of criminal breach of trust once there is a sale transaction. This is a settled position of law," the court said. The judges expressed disappointment with the reasoning in the High Court order, particularly the part that recorded the submission of the public prosecutor that recovery of the Rs 12.5 lakh balance could not be effected because the accused were protected from arrest. Justice Pardiwallah laughed again and said, "What we have understood is that according to the State, police machinery is required for the purpose of recovery of the balance amount. We need not say anything further in the matter. Ordinarily, we do not set aside orders of the High Court denying bail. But this is an order we deem fit to set aside."
NDTV
2 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Baseless, Malicious": Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra On Rs 60 Crore Fraud Case
Mumbai: In their response to a businessman's allegations of a Rs 60 crore fraud, actor Shilpa Shetty and businessman husband Raj Kundra have said there is "no criminality involved" and the case against them is "baseless and malicious" and aimed at maligning their reputation. This comes after businessman Deepak Kothari accused the couple of cheating him, and the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai Police filed an FIR against Ms Shetty and Mr Kundra. Mr Kothari, director of Lotus Capital Financial Services Limited, has alleged that the couple took money from him to expand their business but used it for personal expenses. The businessman has said that the celebrity couple approached him in 2015 and sought a Rs 75 crore loan for their company, Best Deal TV Private Limited, a shopping TV channel, at a 12 per cent interest rate. According to the businessman, Ms Shetty and Mr Kundra later asked him to give the funds as an "investment" instead of a loan and assured him of monthly returns and repayment of principal. Mr Kothari has said he transferred Rs 31.95 crore in April 2015 under a share subscription agreement, and Rs 28.53 crore in September 2015 under a supplementary agreement. The amount was credited to Best Deal TV's bank accounts. The businessman said in his complaint that repeated attempts to recover the funds failed, and accused the couple of "dishonestly using" the money. The Economic Offences Wing is currently investigating the matter. The couple's lawyer, Advocate Prashant Patil, has now put out a statement. "My clients have been informed by certain segment of electronic and print media that there is an alleged case registered against my clients at the Economic Offences Wing, Mumbai. "At the outset, my clients deny all the allegations against them which are purely civil in nature and have been adjudicated by the NCLT Mumbai on 04/10/2024. This is an old transaction, wherein the company went into financial distress and eventually got entangled in a long legal battle at the NCLT," the lawyer has said. "There is no criminality involved and our auditors have submitted all the necessary supporting documents from time to time, as requested by the EOW, including detailed cash flow statements. The investment agreement in question is purely in the nature of an equity investment," the statement added. The company, the lawyer said, has received a liquidation order that has been placed before the cops. "The concerned Charter accounts have visited the police station for last one year for more than 15 times with all the evidence supporting the claims of my clients," he said. "This is nothing but a baseless and malicious case aimed at maligning our clients, and appropriate action is being initiated from our side against the perpetrators," the lawyer said. Mr Kundra has made headlines for the wrong reasons of late. Last year, his premises were searched by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case. In 2021, he was arrested in a case linked to the production and streaming of pornographic films. He was later granted bail.
