The wife of former South Korean president Yoon Sook Yeol, who was imprisoned in South Korea, was arrested on Tuesday for allegations of bribery, stock manipulation and interference in the candidate’s selection, reported late Tuesday.
According to state prosecutors, Kim Keon-hee is currently in detention center in southern Saul, separate from the facility that houses her husband, Yun.
Seoul investigators are about to accusing the former First Lady of alleged crimes in one of three special prosecutor probes launched under South Korea’s new liberal government, targeting the conservative Yoon presidency who took office in April and took office before being jailed.
In granting the special prosecutor’s request for arrest warrant late Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court said Kim Kae-on-hee posed the risk of destroying the evidence.
Kim arrived at Seoul Court on Tuesday and did not speak to reporters due to a few hours of hearings accompanying a warrant request. She is expected to face further questions from investigators on Thursday. Investigators may extend detention for up to 20 days before formally submitting.
Her husband’s incredible power grab attempts came into a seemingly routine standoff with the liberals on December 3, when it plunged South Korea into political turmoil. The former president abused their legislative majority to block his agenda by “anti-state” forces.
Some political opponents have questioned whether Yoon’s actions were at least partially motivated by the growing allegations against his wife, which has undermined his approval rating and given his rivals political ammunition.
Kim Keene Hee: I’m “someone’s insignificant.”
The investigation team led by special prosecutor Min Jung-ki, appointed by new liberal president Lee Jae Myung in June, decided last Wednesday to seek Kim’s first arrest.
Kim appeared in Questions last week and briefly told reporters that she not only released an ambiguous apology for raising public concerns, but also suggested denying allegations against her, and portraying herself as “insignificant.”
Investigators suspect Kim and Yoon had an undue influence on the conservative People’s Power Party in order to nominate certain candidates in the 2022 legislative by-election at the request of election broker Myung Tae-Kyun.
In particular, Kim is linked separately to multiple allegations of corruption, including claims that she received a luxurious gift through Fortune Terror, who acts as an intermediary for Unified Church officials who benefit from the business, and possible involvement in a stock-management scheme tied to a local BMW dealership company.
Earlier on Tuesday, one of Kim’s close allies was arrested by Min’s investigators after arriving from Vietnam. Investigators say he is considering allegations that he will use his relationship with the former First Lady to get a multi-million dollar business investment for a financially troubled company.
During his tenure, Yoon rejected calls to investigate his wife as a baseless political attack, and rejected multiple bills in search of a probe independent of the free-led parliament.
However, President Lee Jae Myung signed the law in June and launched an extensive special investigation into Yoon’s martial law fiasco, charges against his wife, and the death of the Marines own during the 2023 flood rescue operation.
Additional sources •AP
