 "How a diamond pendant led to South Korea's former first lady's imprisonment")
The simultaneous imprisonment of both a former president and his spouse marks rare chapter in South Korea’s political history.
Kim Keon-hee, the 52-year-old wife of ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol, was formally arrested after a late-night ruling by the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday.
The court authorised the special prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant, citing “concerns about evidence destruction” as the justification for placing her in detention.
The arrest follows a sweeping set of investigations initiated by liberal President Lee Jae-yung shortly after his election in June.
These inquiries target alleged misconduct during Yoon’s presidency, which ended abruptly in April when he was removed from office by the Constitutional Court after his impeachment.
Yoon’s downfall stemmed from his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in December last year — a decision that not only collapsed within hours but also triggered political outrage and set off a series of legal troubles for both him and his wife.
While Yoon’s imprisonment is linked to charges of insurrection and abuse of power, Kim faces multiple criminal accusations spanning bribery, stock manipulation, and unlawful political influence.
She now occupies a cell in Seoul’s Nambu Detention Centre, while her husband remains in custody at Seoul Detention Centre.
How it came to Kim Keon-hee being arrested
On the day of the ruling, Kim arrived at the court dressed in a black suit. She bowed to reporters gathered outside but did not respond to questions.
Inside the courtroom, the proceedings lasted over four hours as prosecutors presented evidence and argued that she posed a serious risk of destroying documents or interfering with witnesses.
Judge Jeong Jae-wook accepted these arguments, noting that the potential for evidence tampering warranted her detention. The decision followed earlier questioning by investigators, including a seven-hour interrogation session the previous week.
Kim did speak briefly to journalists after that earlier questioning, offering a general apology for “causing public concern” but adding that she saw herself as “someone insignificant.”
Kim expressed discontent about the scope of the charges, telling the judge she was “upset that even issues from before my marriage keep being brought up.”
Her legal representatives have consistently denied all charges, labelling many of the allegations as unfounded.
Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on YTN radio, “I would like to express that I hope the special prosecutor’s investigation proceeds normally and fairly in accordance with the law and regulations.”
The charges against Kim Keon-hee: Explained
Allegations of stock manipulation
One of the most serious allegations against Kim involves claims that she participated in a stock price manipulation scheme tied to Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea.
Prosecutors allege that between 2009 and 2012, Kim conspired with others to artificially raise the company’s share prices, generating profits of more than 800 million won (£428,000).
These accusations are not new — rumours and media reports about her potential involvement in financial irregularities had circulated during Yoon’s presidency, but formal legal action was repeatedly blocked while he was in office.
Yoon had dismissed calls for an investigation as political attacks from opponents.
The new administration has reopened the case, and prosecutors believe they now have sufficient evidence to press charges.
Claims of unlawful political influence
Another significant charge is that Kim and her husband exerted improper pressure on the conservative People Power Party to secure the nomination of a specific candidate during a 2022 legislative by-election.
This effort was allegedly coordinated at the request of political broker Myung Tae-kyun.
Myung himself faces accusations of running manipulated opinion surveys for Yoon during the presidential primaries — surveys that may have bolstered Yoon’s chances of winning the nomination.
Prosecutors say these free polling services, valued at over 270 million won, amounted to illegal political funding.
The allegation links Kim directly to a broader network of political interference that investigators claim compromised the fairness of party candidate selection processes.
Bribery and luxury gifts
Prosecutors also accuse Kim of accepting high-value gifts from various sources in exchange for providing favourable treatment in business or political matters.
Among the items under scrutiny is Van Cleef & Arpels’ Snowflake Pendant (18 karat white gold with brilliant-cut diamonds) reportedly worth over 60 million won ($43,000), which Kim wore while accompanying Yoon to a Nato summit in 2022.
The pendant was not declared in the couple’s legally required financial disclosure. According to the prosecution, it was supplied by a domestic construction company seeking to secure advantages.
The company’s chairman is alleged to have purchased the item, and investigators are examining whether its gifting was connected to the appointment of the chairman’s son-in-law as chief of staff to then-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo shortly before the summit.
Kim has rejected the claim, telling prosecutors that the necklace was “a fake bought 20 years ago in Hong Kong.” The prosecution, however, maintains that the piece is genuine.
In addition to the pendant, Kim is accused of receiving two Chanel handbags worth a combined 20 million won (£10,700) and a diamond necklace from members of the Unification Church.
Investigators allege these gifts were arranged through a shaman intermediary and tied to the church’s interest in development projects in Cambodia.
Other corruption-linked investigations
Earlier on the day of her arrest, one of her close associates was detained after returning from Vietnam.
Prosecutors suspect this individual used their connection to Kim to obtain millions of dollars in investment for a financially struggling company.
Investigators have also conducted raids on multiple business premises, including a construction firm believed to be linked to some of the luxury gifts.
In one instance, they are investigating whether a $43,000 necklace worn by Kim on a European trip in 2022 was connected to political favours. Kim has maintained that the jewellery was not authentic.
What next for Kim Keon-hee & Yoon Suk-yeol?
Kim’s arrest comes as part of a trio of major special prosecutor cases approved by President Lee Jae Myung in June.
The first involves Yoon’s martial law declaration in December 2024, which lasted only a few hours before being overturned by lawmakers who broke through a military blockade to hold an emergency vote.
The second focuses on the allegations against Kim.
The third examines the drowning of a marine during a flood rescue in 2023, which critics allege Yoon’s administration attempted to cover up.
Yoon’s martial law decision was made during escalating disputes with liberal lawmakers, whom he described as “anti-state” actors obstructing his agenda.
Some of his opponents have argued that his drastic action may have been partly influenced by growing scrutiny of his wife’s alleged misconduct.
Following the failed martial law attempt, Yoon was impeached on December 14, 2024, and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025.
After a brief release in March, he was rearrested in July and now faces trial on rebellion and other charges. He has consistently refused to attend hearings or answer prosecutors’ questions, including those concerning Kim’s activities.
While the country has a history of prosecuting former leaders, the incarceration of both a former president and a former first lady at the same time is without precedent.
Kim’s career before entering politics was in the arts sector, where she ran an exhibition company.
During Yoon’s presidency, she was seen by some observers as an influential figure behind the scenes.
However, her time as first lady was marked by controversies, including the “Dior bag scandal” — a separate incident that prosecutors are now revisiting.
In recent months, her academic credentials also came under fire, with both her master’s and doctoral degrees revoked following findings of plagiarism.
Under South Korean law, prosecutors can detain Kim for up to 20 days before formally filing charges. During this period, investigators are expected to conduct further interrogations and review additional evidence.
If indicted, she could face multiple years in prison if found guilty on charges ranging from financial crimes to bribery and political interference.
The special prosecutor’s team, led by Min Joong-ki, has pledged to conduct a thorough inquiry in accordance with the law.
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