Former First Lady Kim Ke-on-hee Arrested in South Korea
In a historic move, Kim Ke-on-hee, the former first lady of South Korea, has been arrested, marking a first for someone in her position.
The 52-year-old Kim is married to the disgraced former president, Yong Seok Yeol, who himself has faced a turbulent political journey. After resigning from his role as a prosecutor in 2021, Yoon, now 64, was elected president in 2022. His tenure took a sharp turn when he was imprisoned in January 2025, subsequently being dismissed in April of the same year.
In December 2024, Yoon announced martial law during a televised address, justifying it as a measure to defend the country against “anti-state” forces sympathetic to North Korea. This declaration led to a ban on local council meetings and a suspension of press freedoms. Yoon also sought to detain various political adversaries, including leaders from his own party.
Authorities have launched multiple operations against Yoon’s office, ultimately obtaining a warrant for his arrest—making him the first president in South Korean history to face such a fate.
While his trials have culminated in consistent judicial decisions against him, he was briefly released from detention in March but was rearrested in July amidst fears he might tamper with evidence related to claims of unlawful actions prior to his martial law declaration.
According to reports, should Yoon be convicted, he could face either life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
On the other side, Kim is currently embroiled in allegations of bribery and stock manipulation linked to local BMW dealers, as well as misconduct influencing the appointment of candidates in the 2022 by-elections. She was arrested earlier this week following a court-issued warrant concerned that she might destroy vital evidence.
Part of the accusations against her involves receiving expensive gifts, such as two Chanel bags, a diamond necklace connected to the Unification Church, and cash amounting to 20 million won (around $14,500). There’s also scrutiny over a Van Cleef pendant she wore during the NATO summit in 2022, as prosecutors allege it wasn’t disclosed properly in the couple’s financial records.
Oh Jeong-Hee, a spokesperson for the prosecutors, mentioned that while Kim claimed the pendant was a fake bought two decades ago in Hong Kong, officials insist it’s genuine.
Prosecutors have also stated that Kim benefited from a price manipulation scheme involving BMW dealer stocks, allegedly accumulating over 800 million won (nearly $58,000).
While her attorney has refuted the charges, Kim appeared in court before her arrest, bowing but opting not to make any statements or comments.
