Korean women are among the most beautiful and elegant in the world. Unfortunately, like their men, they are among the more corrupt, especially when they inhabit the Blue House.
Wife of South Korea's jailed ex-President Yoon arrested
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Kim Keon Hee, the wife of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested on a range of charges late Tuesday night, including stock price manipulation, accepting luxury goods in exchange for political favors and meddling in election nominations.
The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for Kim after a hearing on Tuesday, special prosecutor Min Joong-ki's office said in a brief statement.
In granting the warrant, the court cited the risk of Kim destroying evidence, news agency Yonhap reported.
Kim's arrest marks the first time in South Korean history that a former president and his wife have been jailed.
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Yoon, who was removed from office in April, is being held at the Seoul Detention Center on separate allegations related to his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law.
Among the charges he faces is insurrection, which is punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Prosecutors allege that Kim made around $580,000 in a price-rigging scheme involving the stocks of Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in South Korea, between 2009 and 2012.
She is also accused of receiving Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace from the Unification Church via a shaman as a bribe for business favors.
A third charge claims the former presidential couple influenced candidate nominations for Yoon's People Power Party in local and parliamentary elections.
After questioning by the special counsel last week, Kim told reporters that she was sorry for "causing concern to the people," calling herself a "nobody." She has reportedly denied all allegations against her.
Kim is being held at the Nambu Detention Center in southwestern Seoul, separate from her husband.
She is expected to appear at special counsel Min Joong-ki's office on Thursday for questioning, according to local reports.
Grok: How many South Korean presidents have been convicted of corruption?
Four South Korean presidents have been convicted of corruption-related offenses, based on available records:
Chun Doo-hwan (1980–1988): Convicted in 1996 of treason, corruption, and other offenses related to the 1979 coup and the Gwangju uprising. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence was commuted to life in prison, and he was pardoned in 1998 after serving two years.
Roh Tae-woo (1988–1993): Convicted in 1996 alongside Chun for treason, corruption, and involvement in the 1979 coup and Gwangju uprising. Sentenced to 17 years in prison, he was pardoned in 1998 after two years.
Lee Myung-bak (2008–2013): Sentenced in 2018 to 15 years in prison for bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power, notably involving illegal funds from Samsung. His sentence was later adjusted, and he was pardoned by President Yoon Suk Yeol in 2022.
Park Geun-hye (2013–2017): Impeached in 2016 and convicted in 2018 of multiple charges, including bribery, abuse of power, and coercion, related to receiving tens of millions of dollars from conglomerates like Samsung. Sentenced to 20–22 years in prison, she was pardoned by President Moon Jae-in in 2021.
Note: President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested in 2025 and faces an impeachment trial related to his martial law declaration, but no conviction for corruption has been recorded as of the latest information. Additionally, posts on X and some sources suggest broader investigations, but only these four have confirmed corruption convictions.
Yoon probably left the corruption business to his wife.
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