Former first lady Kim Keon Hee of South Korea has been arrested amid a series of allegations including stock manipulation and bribery, a development that highlights the ongoing issues of political accountability within the country. During a recent court proceeding in Seoul, Kim, aged 52, categorically denied the charges against her, which lasted four hours. The court ultimately issued a detention warrant due to concerns that she might destroy evidence related to the case.
This event marks a historic moment, as it is the first time in South Korea's tumultuous political history that both a former president and their spouse have faced incarceration. Her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been in custody since January on charges stemming from a botched martial law attempt, which created significant unrest and led to his eventual removal from office.
Prosecutors allege that Kim reaped over 800 million won (approximately $577,940) through involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme associated with Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea. While these activities reportedly occurred prior to Yoon’s election, they continued to overshadow his presidency. Additional accusations include accepting luxury gifts—two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace—allegedly given as bribes from the controversial Unification Church in return for business advantages.
Moreover, Kim is charged with interference in candidate nominations during both the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and the recent general elections. During her court appearance, she appeared somber, dressed in black, and expressed regret for causing a public disturbance, asserting her unimportance in comparison to the gravity of the situation.
Throughout Yoon's presidency, he exercised his veto power against three bills proposed by opposition leaders that sought a special counsel investigation into Kim’s conduct. This culminated in a special counsel being appointed only after Yoon’s political rival, Lee Jae Myung, ascended to the presidency in June this year. The unfolding events surrounding the former first lady and her husband further illuminate the pervasive issues of corruption within South Korean politics.
