South Korean Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Kim Keon Hee, Wife of Former President Yoon Suk Yeol

Published Time 08-14-2025, 18:45

A South Korean court has authorized the arrest of Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, as investigators pursue allegations of bribery, stock manipulation, and meddling in political candidate selection. This marks a significant development in the ongoing probes into the Yoon presidency under the current liberal government.

Court Cites Risk of Evidence Tampering in Arrest Decision

On Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court approved a special prosecutor’s request to issue an arrest warrant for Kim Keon Hee. The court expressed concerns that she may attempt to destroy or tamper with evidence related to multiple suspected crimes.

Kim arrived at the court for a hearing on the warrant request and was subsequently ordered to be detained at a separate facility from her husband, who remains imprisoned. She did not address reporters following the court session.

Background: Special Prosecutor Investigations Target Former Presidency

The investigation into Kim is part of three special prosecutor probes initiated by South Korea’s new liberal administration under President Lee Jae Myung, who appointed Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki in June 2025. These probes focus on alleged misconduct during the Yoon administration, which ended abruptly with Yoon’s removal from office in April and subsequent rearrest related to his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.

Yoon and Kim are notably the first presidential couple in South Korean history to be simultaneously arrested amid criminal allegations, highlighting the gravity of the charges and political fallout.

Allegations Surrounding Kim Keon Hee

Investigators suspect Kim and her husband exerted undue influence within the conservative People Power Party to sway the nomination of a legislative by-election candidate in 2022. This purported manipulation allegedly involved election broker Myung Tae-kyun, who stands accused of conducting biased opinion surveys that may have assisted Yoon in securing his party’s presidential primary victory.

Additional charges linked to Kim include accepting luxury gifts through an intermediary connected to the Unification Church, allegedly in exchange for business favors. She is also implicated in a stock price manipulation scheme involving a local BMW dealership.

Kim’s Response and Legal Proceedings

During a seven-hour questioning session last week led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, Kim offered a brief apology for public concern but suggested she would contest the allegations, describing herself as “someone insignificant.” She maintained a low profile, refraining from commenting publicly beyond her initial statement.

Political Context and Impact

Yoon’s controversial move to impose martial law in December 2024, which contributed to his downfall, was seen by some as a desperate attempt to counter legislative opposition. Critics argue that growing allegations against Kim may have pressured Yoon politically and contributed to his declining approval ratings.

Throughout his presidency, Yoon denied accusations targeting his wife and dismissed investigation calls as politically motivated attacks.