The wife of South Korea’s jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested on corruption allegations, including bribery and stock manipulation. Kim Keon Hee was granted an arrest warrant by the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, citing her potential to destroy evidence.
This is one of three special prosecutor probes launched under Seoul’s new liberal government targeting Yoon’s presidency. The investigation into Kim is separate from that of her husband, who was removed from office in April after a brief martial law decree in December.
Kim faces further questioning by investigators on Thursday and can be detained for up to 20 days before formal charges are filed. She has denied the allegations, claiming the luxury necklace she wore during a trip to Europe was not authentic.
The arrest of Kim and her husband marks the first time a former presidential couple has been jailed simultaneously over criminal allegations. The investigation into Yoon’s actions on martial law and his wife’s alleged corruption raises questions about his motivations for making the power grab.
Yoon, who is facing high-stakes trial on rebellion charges, has resisted investigators’ attempts to compel him to answer questions about his wife.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/13/nx-s1-5501036/south-korea-yoon-corruption-first-lady