Kim Keon Hee, wife of South Korea's imprisoned former president Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested on multiple charges including stock manipulation and bribery. During a four-hour court hearing in Seoul, she denied all allegations, but the court deemed a detention necessary, highlighting the risk of evidence tampering.
This unprecedented case marks the first time in South Korean history that both a former president and first lady have faced jail time. Yoon Suk Yeol, who was detained earlier this year for his role in a failed martial law attempt, has been under scrutiny for various controversies.
Kim, 52, allegedly gained over 800 million won (around $577,940) from a price-rigging scheme concerning Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer. She is also accused of accepting luxurious gifts, including two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace from the Unification Church in return for business favors. Moreover, she faces claims of interfering with candidate nominations during recent elections.
During her appearance in court, Kim was dressed in black and expressed regret for the turmoil caused, stating, “I sincerely apologize for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance.” Notably, while president, Yoon had vetoed multiple attempts to investigate these allegations. In June, with the shift in power, a special counsel was finally appointed to probe Kim's actions.
