Latest news with #KimKeonhee
NHK
2 hours ago
- Politics
- NHK
South Korean media: Ex-first lady Kim Keon-hee arrested
South Korean media are reporting that the wife of the country's ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol has been arrested on bribery charges and other allegations. A special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee announced late Tuesday night that a court issued an arrest warrant for her. In one of the allegations, Kim is accused of receiving a luxury handbag from the religious group previously known as the Unification Church through a third person. Kim reportedly denied the allegations when she attended a court hearing held on Tuesday to decide whether to issue the arrest warrant. Another special counsel arrested Yoon last month over his short-lived declaration of martial law in December. South Korean media say this is the first time in the country's history that a former presidential couple are under arrest at the same time.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
South Korean court approves arrest of ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol's wife amid bribery probe
A South Korean court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk-yeol as investigators seek to charge her over various suspected crimes, including bribery, stock manipulation and meddling in the selection of a candidate. 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.
Al Jazeera
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
South Korean court approves arrest of ex-first lady, wife of jailed Yoon
A South Korean court has approved the arrest of Kim Keon-hee, the wife of jailed and impeached ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol, making her the country's only former first lady to be arrested. Kim had earlier appeared in court on Tuesday for a five-hour hearing in which the prosecution requested a warrant to arrest her on accusations of interfering with an investigation. Kim's detention means she joins her husband, former President Yoon, in jail as he faces trial, following his removal in April, over a botched bid to impose martial law in December. Kim, wearing a black suit, bowed as she arrived on Tuesday, but did not answer reporters' questions or make a statement. After the hearing ended, she left to await the ruling at a detention centre in Seoul, the capital, in line with customary practice. The charges against her, punishable by years in prison, range from stock fraud to bribery and illegal influence peddling that have implicated business owners, religious figures and a political power broker. She has been accused of breaking the law over an incident in which she wore a luxury Van Cleef pendant reportedly worth more than 60 million won ($43,000) while attending a NATO summit with her husband in 2022. The item was not listed in the couple's financial disclosure as required by law, according to the charge. Kim is also accused of receiving two Chanel bags together valued at 20 million won ($14,500) and a diamond necklace from a religious group as a bribe in return for influence favourable to its business interests. Kim denies accusations The prosecution sought Kim's arrest because of the risk of her destroying evidence and interfering with the investigation, a spokesperson for the special prosecutor's team told a news briefing after Tuesday's hearing. The spokesperson, Oh Jeong-hee, said Kim had told prosecutors the pendant she wore was a fake bought 20 years ago in Hong Kong. The prosecution said it was genuine, however, and given by a domestic construction company for Kim to wear at the summit, Oh said. Kim's lawyers did not immediately comment on Tuesday, but they have previously denied the accusations against her and dismissed as groundless speculation news reports about some of the gifts she allegedly received. Her husband Yoon is on trial on charges of insurrection, which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The former president, who also faces charges of abuse of power among others, has denied wrongdoing and refused to attend trial hearings or be questioned by prosecutors.
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
South Korean court approves arrest of ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol's wife amid bribery probe
A South Korean court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk-yeol as investigators seek to charge her over various suspected crimes, including bribery, stock manipulation and meddling in the selection of a candidate. 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.
Al Jazeera
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
South Korea awaits ruling on bid to arrest former first lady
South Korea's former first lady, Kim Keon-hee, has appeared in court for a five-hour hearing, but the judge has yet to issue a ruling on a prosecution request for a warrant to arrest her on accusations of interfering with an investigation. If detained, she would be South Korea's only former first lady to be arrested, joining her husband, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, in jail as he faces trial, following his removal in April, over a botched bid to impose martial law in December. Kim, wearing a black suit, bowed as she arrived on Tuesday, but did not answer reporters' questions or make a statement. After the hearing ended, she left to await the ruling at a detention centre in Seoul, the capital, in line with customary practice. The charges against her, punishable by years in prison, range from stock fraud to bribery and illegal influence peddling that have implicated business owners, religious figures and a political power broker. She has been accused of breaking the law over an incident in which she wore a luxury Van Cleef pendant reportedly worth more than 60 million won ($43,000) while attending a NATO summit with her husband in 2022. The item was not listed in the couple's financial disclosure as required by law, according to the charge. Kim is also accused of receiving two Chanel bags together valued at 20 million won ($14,500) and a diamond necklace from a religious group as a bribe in return for influence favourable to its business interests. Kim denies accusations The prosecution sought Kim's arrest because of the risk of her destroying evidence and interfering with the investigation, a spokesperson for the special prosecutor's team told a news briefing after Tuesday's hearing. The spokesperson, Oh Jeong-hee, said Kim had told prosecutors the pendant she wore was a fake bought 20 years ago in Hong Kong. The prosecution said it was genuine, however, and given by a domestic construction company for Kim to wear at the summit, Oh said. Kim's lawyers did not immediately comment on Tuesday, but they have previously denied the accusations against her and dismissed as groundless speculation news reports about some of the gifts she allegedly received. The court is expected to announce its decision late on Tuesday or overnight, media said, based on the timing of the decision to arrest Yoon. Yoon is on trial on charges of insurrection, which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The former president, who also faces charges of abuse of power among others, has denied wrongdoing and refused to attend trial hearings or be questioned by prosecutors.
