South Korea’s Ex-First Lady Jailed in Corruption Scandal

South Korea’s former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, wife of impeached and jailed ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested on Tuesday over allegations of bribery, stock manipulation, and political meddling. The Seoul Central District Court approved the arrest warrant late Tuesday, citing concerns that Kim posed a risk of destroying evidence. This marks an unprecedented moment in South Korean history, with both a former president and his spouse detained simultaneously on criminal charges.

The arrest follows a special prosecutor probe launched under the new liberal government of President Lee Jae Myung, targeting Yoon’s presidency, which ended in April after his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. Kim’s detention is part of three investigations into Yoon’s administration, including his brief martial law decree and the 2023 death of a marine during a flood rescue, which liberals allege was covered up. Kim is being held at a detention center in southern Seoul, separate from Yoon’s facility, and faces further questioning on Thursday. Prosecutors, led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, can detain her for up to 20 days before filing formal charges.

Investigators allege that Kim and Yoon influenced the conservative People Power Party to nominate a specific candidate in a 2022 legislative by-election, allegedly at the behest of election broker Myung Tae-kyun, who is accused of using manipulated opinion polls to aid Yoon’s presidential primary win.

Kim faces additional charges of stock manipulation, allegedly profiting over 800 million won (£428,000) by inflating shares of Deutsch Motors, a local BMW dealership, between 2009 and 2012. She is also accused of accepting luxury gifts, including a $43,000 necklace, through a Unification Church official via a fortuneteller intermediary, possibly linked to political favors, such as the appointment of a construction company chairman’s son-in-law as chief of staff to then-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in 2022. Kim has denied these allegations, claiming the necklace was a borrowed fake.

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On Tuesday, one of Kim’s associates was arrested upon returning from Vietnam, suspected of leveraging her influence to secure millions in business investments for his struggling company. A raid on a construction company on Monday further intensified the probe, focusing on the luxury necklace’s origins. Kim’s seven-hour questioning last week culminated in her vague apology to reporters, expressing regret for public concern while dismissing the allegations as insignificant.

Yoon, who faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power for his martial law attempt, has refused to cooperate with investigators regarding his wife’s case. His brief martial law decree on December 3, 2024, which he justified as a response to “anti-state” liberal forces, collapsed within hours after lawmakers overturned it. Impeached on December 14 and removed by the Constitutional Court in April, Yoon’s actions have been partly linked to the mounting allegations against Kim, which damaged his approval ratings.

The liberal government’s probes reflect a broader push to address Yoon’s controversial tenure, which critics argue undermined South Korea’s democratic standing, with the Swedish V-Dem Institute labeling him “South Korea’s Donald Trump” for his authoritarian tendencies. As the nation grapples with this political crisis, Kim’s arrest underscores the deep divisions and ongoing scrutiny of Yoon’s legacy, with the public and analysts awaiting further developments in this high-profile case.

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