Latest news with #formerfirstlady
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- 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.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wife of South Korea's jailed ex-president arrested
South Korea's former first lady has been arrested over a string of charges including stock manipulation and bribery. Kim Keon Hee, 52, denied all charges against her during a court hearing on Tuesday that lasted four hours. The Seoul court issued a warrant to detain her late in the day, citing risks that she may destroy evidence otherwise. This is the first time in South Korea's history that a former president and his spouse are in jail at the same time. Kim's husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was detained earlier to face trial over a failed martial law bid last year that plunged the country into political turmoil and eventually led to his ouster. Prosecutors say Kim, 52, made over 800 million won ($577,940; £428,000) by participating in a price-rigging scheme involving the stocks of Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in South Korea. While this allegedly happened before her husband was elected the country's leader, it continued to cast a shadow throughout his presidency. She allegedly also accepted two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace as bribes from the controversial Unification Church in exchange for business favours. Among other charges, Kim is also accused of meddling in candidate nominations during the parliamentary by-elections in 2022 and the general elections last year. Kim appeared solemn as she attended Tuesday's hearing wearing a black suit and a black skirt. "I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance," she told reporters. While he was president, Yoon vetoed three opposition-led bills that sought a special counsel investigation into allegations against Kim. He issued the last veto in November, a week before he declared martial law. A special counsel was set up in June this year after Yoon's rival Lee Jae Myung became president. First lady's Dior bag shakes South Korean politics Why has it been so hard to arrest S Korea's impeached president?
