South Korea's Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee Faces Bribery and Corruption Charges

Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was charged on Friday with bribery, stock manipulation, and election meddling.

This historic case makes her the first former first lady in South Korea to face such serious accusations. The charges come after her arrest on August 12, 2025, and follow a special investigation led by prosecutor Min Joong-ki. Both Kim and Yoon, who was ousted from office, are now in custody, a first for a former presidential couple in the country.

Kim, 52, is accused of breaking several laws, including those related to financial markets, political funding, and accepting bribes for influence.

• Kim Keon Hee charged with bribery, stock manipulation, and election meddling in South Korea
• Former South Korean First Lady detained amid high-profile corruption investigation
• Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon Hee face unprecedented legal action in political scandal

Prosecutors say she made over 800 million won (about $578,000) through a stock manipulation scheme tied to Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership, between 2009 and 2012. She’s also accused of accepting luxury gifts, like a Van Cleef & Arpels pendant worth over 60 million won ($43,000) and two Chanel bags valued at 20 million won, in exchange for pulling strings in the People Power Party’s candidate selections for the 2022 and 2024 elections.

A Seoul court approved Kim’s arrest, citing the risk she might destroy evidence. She’s currently detained at Nambu Detention Center in Seoul, separate from Yoon, who faces his own trial for attempting to impose martial law in December 2024. Kim denies the allegations, claiming during a seven-hour questioning that the pendant was a cheap knockoff she bought in Hong Kong years ago. Her lawyers call the accusations baseless and speculative.

The investigation has grown, with recent raids targeting people suspected of giving Kim jewelry for business favors. She could be held for up to 20 days as prosecutors finalize charges, with detention possibly extending to six months if she’s formally indicted.

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Kim’s legal troubles highlight South Korea’s ongoing battle with political corruption. The case has further damaged the reputation of Yoon’s presidency, which ended in April 2025 after his impeachment, leaving a cloud over their legacy.