Who Is Kim Keon Hee? Former South Korean First Lady Arrested in Corruption Probe

Kim Keon Hee, the former First Lady of South Korea and wife of ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested over multiple corruption allegations, including stock manipulation, election interference, and bribery, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Her arrest comes just weeks after her husband, former President Yoon, was jailed for a second time—this time over his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024—making them the first former presidential couple in South Korea’s history to be imprisoned simultaneously.

On Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court approved the arrest warrant, citing a risk that Kim might tamper with evidence. The warrant was sought by special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team, which is investigating violations of the Capital Market Act, the Political Funds Act, and anti-bribery laws. Prosecutors claimed she posed a “serious risk” of destroying evidence, while her defense argued she had been cooperative and was in poor health.

Who Is Kim Keon Hee? Key Allegations Against Kim Keon Hee

• Stock Manipulation: Accused of participating in a scheme to inflate the stock price of Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership, between 2009 and 2012.

• Election Interference: Allegedly meddled in candidate selections for the 2022 by-elections and the 2024 general elections.

• Bribery: Suspected of accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church—via a shaman—in exchange for business favors.

• Land & Development Scandals: Investigators are also probing claims that a motorway endpoint was rerouted to benefit her family’s land in Yangpyeong, and that her family received preferential treatment in a local apartment project.

Kim has denied all accusations but apologized publicly last week, calling herself “a nobody” who caused public concern.

Originally slated for detention at the Seoul Detention Centre—where her husband is held—she was instead transferred to the Seoul Southern Detention Centre at the facility’s request. The investigation currently involves 16 separate charges against her.