South Korea’s special prosecutor appointed to investigate former first lady Kim Keon Hee has filed a request with the court for her arrest on corruption charges. Korean media reported on Thursday.
Kim and former President Yoon Suk Yeol are the subjects of two separate investigations being conducted by different special prosecutors. These investigations began after Yoon was removed from office in April for attempting to impose a short-term state of martial law.
The day before, Kim testified at the special prosecutor’s office on charges of stock manipulation, bribery and abuse of influence. She apologised for “causing turmoil in the country” but ignored journalists’ questions about the substance of the charges.
Kim’s defence team rejects all charges against her.
On December 14, 2024, the country’s National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, 11 days after his unexpected and unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law. The former president is currently in custody. He faces life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Many in South Korea believe that the attempt to impose martial law was, at least in part, an attempt to protect Kim from prosecution.
According to Air Mail, the 52-year-old Kim added charisma to her 64-year-old husband, a serious and tough former prosecutor who entered politics about five years ago. From the outset, Kim has been controversial: her ambitions, outspoken tastes and tough stance have often overshadowed her husband’s conservative policies.
This reaction may be linked to prejudice against a wealthy, outspoken and childless woman in a traditional and conservative society.
Criticism of Kim began even before she became first lady. She owns Covana Contents, a company specialising in organising large-scale artistic and cultural events. In 2018, her fortune was estimated at $35 million — more than her husband’s.
Kim also promised to take revenge on journalists who criticised Yoon and caused outrage by supporting a left-wing politician convicted of raping his assistant. She stated that she and Yoon sympathised with the man, adding that liberal politicians are more often involved in sex scandals because they do not know how to “repay” their victims.
