Photo Credit: Getty Images
Former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee, the wife of jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested over allegations of stock manipulation and bribery. After a four-hour court hearing in Seoul on Tuesday, Kim Keon Hee denied all charges, but the court issued a detention warrant, citing concerns about evidence tampering. Her arrest marks a historic first, as both a former president and first lady are now imprisoned in South Korea.
Yoon was detained in January to face trial over a failed martial law bid last year that plunged the country into chaos and eventually led to his ouster.
Prosecutors say Kim, 52, made over 800 million ($577,940) won by participating in a price-rigging scheme involving the stocks of Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in South Korea.
While this allegedly happened before her husband was elected the country's leader, it continued to cast a shadow throughout his presidency.
She allegedly also accepted two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace as bribes from the controversial Unification Church in exchange for business favours.
Among other charges, Kim is also accused of meddling in candidate nominations during the parliamentary by-elections in 2022 and the general elections last year.
Kim appeared solemn as she attended Tuesday's hearing wearing a black suit and a black skirt.
"I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance," she told reporters.
While he was president, Yoon vetoed three opposition-led bills that sought a special counsel investigation into allegations against Kim. He issued the last veto in November, a week before he declared martial law.
A special counsel was set up in June this year after Yoon's rival Lee Jae Myung became president.
The former First Lady's lawyers have denied all charges against her as she remains in detention.
