The arrest of Kim Keon Hee amid corruption charges signals a deepening political crisis in South Korea, as her husband continues to serve time for his own offenses.
Arrest of Former South Korean First Lady Sparks Political Unrest
Arrest of Former South Korean First Lady Sparks Political Unrest
Kim Keon Hee, spouse of imprisoned ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, faces severe allegations, marking a historic moment in South Korean politics.
The wife of South Korea's imprisoned former leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been apprehended on multiple counts, including stock manipulation and bribery. Kim Keon Hee, the former first lady, faced a four-hour court session in Seoul on Tuesday where she fervently denied all accusations. Yet, the court granted a detention order against her, highlighting concerns about potential evidence tampering.
South Korea's political landscape has seen numerous former presidents indicted and incarcerated, but this situation marks the unprecedented joint imprisonment of both a former president and first lady. Yoon, who was arrested back in January due to a failed attempt to impose martial law that incited widespread unrest, now faces the fallout of alleged misconduct involving his wife's questionable dealings.
Kim, aged 52, is charged with allegedly profiting over 800 million won (around $577,940) through involvement in a price-rigging scandal linked to Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea. Allegedly, while her actions took place before her husband assumed the presidency, they tainted his term in office. Additional accusations include the acceptance of luxury items, such as two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, as bribes from the controversial Unification Church in exchange for political favors.
Moreover, she stands accused of interfering in candidate selections during recent parliamentary by-elections and last year's general elections. Dressed formally in a black suit during her court appearance, Kim expressed remorse for the turmoil caused, stating, "I sincerely apologize for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance.”
During his presidency, Yoon controversially vetoed three opposition-led initiatives to investigate Kim, with the last veto occurring mere days before he announced martial law. In June, after Yoon's rival, Lee Jae Myung, ascended to the presidency, a special counsel was established to probe the allegations further, indicating that South Korea's political turbulence is far from over.
