Ex-first lady Kim faces possible arrest over stock and bribery charges

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee leaves the independent prosecutors’ office in Jongno central Seoul on Aug 6 2025 Yonhap — Former first lady Kim Keon Hee leaves the independent prosecutors’ office in Jongno, central Seoul on August. 6. Yonhap

SEOUL, August 7 (AJP) - On Thursday, a team of independent prosecutors requested an arrest warrant for former first lady Kim Keon Hee, 36 days after launching an investigation into multiple allegations.

If approved, it would mark the first time in South Korean history that a former president and first lady are jailed at the same time. Her husband, disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been in custody at a detention center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, since early last month on separate political funding charges.

Kim was questioned for about seven hours on Wednesday at the special investigators' office in central Seoul. She reportedly denied all five allegations, which include stock manipulation, political interference, and accepting illegal gifts. Although she did not invoke her right to remain silent, she gave mostly brief responses.

Prosecutors had initially planned to summon her again, but decided to seek her arrest due to her complete denial and concerns over evidence destruction.

Im Yoon-seo lyseo0330@ajupress.com