Kim Keon Hee, wife of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested on corruption charges including bribery and stock manipulation, marking the first time a former presidential couple has been simultaneously jailed in the country’s history. The arrest deepens South Korea’s political turmoil and reflects ongoing investigations into abuses of power during Yoon’s administration.
Kim Keon Hee, 53, became South Korea’s first former first lady to be arrested following a Seoul court ruling that she posed a flight risk and might destroy evidence. Her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached in April 2025 and rearrested last month over his failed attempt to impose martial law during protests against his government.
The arrest occurred late on August 12, 2025, after a day-long hearing at Seoul Central District Court. Kim was transferred to a detention facility in southern Seoul, separate from the prison holding her husband. This unprecedented development came just hours after investigators arrested one of Kim’s close associates who had fled to Vietnam.
The arrest stems from one of three special prosecutor probes launched by South Korea’s new liberal government targeting Yoon’s presidency. Kim faces 16 criminal allegations, including accepting $10 million in luxury bribes, manipulating stock prices for personal gain, and illegally influencing conservative party nominations. The court’s warrant specifically cited three charges: bribery, stock manipulation, and election law violations.
Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki’s team built their case through financial audits, witness testimonies, and recovered communications showing Kim allegedly pressured the People Power Party to nominate a specific candidate in a 2022 election. Investigators also uncovered evidence linking her to a stock scheme that netted $4.5 million in illicit profits through her mother’s company.
The simultaneous jailing of a former president and first lady represents a historic low in South Korea’s democracy, where every leader since the 1980s has faced post-term investigations. The case has intensified political divisions, with conservatives calling it retaliation by new President Lee Jae Myung’s administration, while liberals frame it as necessary accountability.
Kim will undergo further questioning this week, with prosecutors having 20 days to formally indict her. The special counsel’s investigation must conclude by late September 2025. If convicted on the most serious charges, Kim faces over 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, Yoon’s separate trial for rebellion over his martial law decree continues, with verdicts expected in early 2026.
