A South Korean court has ordered the arrest of Kim Keon-hee, wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk-yeol, on corruption allegations. This is the first time in the country’s history that a former first lady has been detained, and the first instance where both a president and spouse are in custody at the same time.
Kim is accused of stock manipulation, accepting bribes, and interfering in political candidate selections. Prosecutors cited the risk of evidence tampering as the reason for the arrest, which was approved by the Seoul Central District Court after hours of deliberation.
The charges are linked to one of three special investigations into the former president and his allies. Kim denied all accusations in court, claiming she held no significant political influence. She is being held at a detention facility separate from her husband’s.
The arrest is seen as a landmark in South Korea’s political history, signaling a stronger push for high-level accountability and reinforcing the government’s anti-corruption drive.
