Former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee is spending her first day in jail after being formally booked into the Seoul Nambu Detention Center. She faces charges of bribery, stock fraud, and influence peddling, which her lawyers have denied.
Kim will be treated like other inmates but with some adjustments due to her high-profile status. She will have a small table for eating meals and a floor mattress in her solitary cell, which is smaller than a parking space. The facility has separate showers and outdoor exercise areas.
The 61-year-old former first lady had been living in a spacious apartment with her husband, ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, but he is currently on trial for his own alleged crimes. Kim is a wealthy businesswoman who owns most of the couple’s assets, including their apartment.
Her lawyers say she was not in good health and had not eaten since late Tuesday. The court approved a warrant for her arrest due to concerns that she might destroy evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Kim’s history of scandals has made her a controversial figure in South Korean politics. Her influence on her husband’s decisions has been significant, with one former judge saying she gave him the “strategy and energy” to become president.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/solitary-cell-with-mattress-floor-south-koreas-once-powerful-ex-first-lady-2025-08-13