- By Shivangi Sharma
- Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:29 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
South Korea's former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, was arrested on corruption charges, a first in the nation where a former president and his wife are both in police custody. The 52-year-old wife of ousted ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol now joins him in jail, charged with bribery, market rigging, and unlawful political interference, accusations she denies.
Late on Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Court granted a special prosecutor's request to arrest Kim on charges of destroying evidence and interfering with the investigation. Kim entered court dressed in a black suit and skirt and bowed to journalists, uttering a quick apology for "trouble-causing" before claiming she was a "person of no consequence." The hearing took more than four hours.
Special prosecutor Min Joong-ki, who was installed in June by liberal President Lee Jae Myung, has been spearheading a broad investigation into accusations involving business owners, religious figures, and political brokers of power. Kim was interrogated for seven hours last week prior to the request for arrest.
The Diamond Pendant Controversy
Among the accusations, one stands out as particularly high-profile, prosecutors say Kim wore a Van Cleef & Arpels Snowflake Pendant costing over 60 million won (approximately USD 43,000) to a 2022 NATO summit. The pendant was reportedly given by a local construction firm in hopes of political and business benefits and was not declared on the couple's legally mandated financial disclosure.
Kim's press secretary maintains the necklace was a decades-old replica bought in Hong Kong, but prosecutors allege it is authentic and part of a pattern of accepting extravagant gifts, including two Chanel purses and a diamond necklace from the controversial Unification Church. The gifts, worth more than 20 million won (USD 10,700), were allegedly offered for consideration for favourable treatment towards the group's business interests.
Stock Manipulation And Political Influence
Investigators allege Kim earned over 800 million won from a price-fixing scheme involving BMW dealer Deutsch Motors.
Prosecutors say the scheme occurred before Yoon’s presidency but damaged his administration’s credibility during his term.
Kim is also accused of interfering in parliamentary candidate nominations during the 2022 legislative by-elections and the general elections in 2024.
Allegedly acted on behalf of election broker Myung Tae-kyun.
Kim is also suspected of manipulating opinion polls to help Yoon secure his party’s presidential nomination.