South Korea's Former First Lady Says Sorry as Corruption Probe Deepens

Kim Keon Hee, South Korea’s former first lady, made a heartfelt apology on Wednesday as she walked into a special prosecutor’s office in Seoul to face tough questions about corruption allegations.

Calling herself “just an ordinary person,” Kim said she was truly sorry for the worry she’s caused the country. She’s accused of serious wrongdoing, including stock manipulation, taking bribes, and pulling strings behind the scenes, charges that could land her in jail and involve some big names in business and religion.

Her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was forced out of office in April 2025 after a controversial attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. Now, both are caught up in separate investigations, with Yoon facing charges of insurrection that could mean life in prison or even worse.

Kim’s troubles, some going back over 15 years, hurt Yoon’s People Power Party badly, costing them votes in recent elections.

• Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Apologizes Amid Corruption Probe
• Kim Keon Hee Faces Bribery and Stock Fraud Allegations as Investigations Intensify
• South Korea Braces for Unprecedented Arrests of Former President and First Lady

The accusations against Kim include rigging a company’s stock prices from 2009 to 2012 and accepting pricey gifts like a $2,200 Christian Dior handbag and a $43,200 Van Cleef pendant, which she didn’t report. She’s also said to have taken two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace as bribes to help someone out. An earlier probe into the Dior bag didn’t find enough evidence, but the special prosecutors are now digging deeper.

Back in 2022, Kim apologized for faking parts of her academic record, promising to be a better first lady. But the scandals kept coming, stirring up political drama. The opposition-led parliament pushed for investigations, which Yoon, a former prosecutor, called “political nonsense” and tried to block with vetoes, leading to his martial law move.

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Now, prosecutors are said to be pushing for an arrest warrant for Kim. If it happens, it’d be a first in South Korea, with both a former president and first lady facing possible arrest. The country’s still reeling, with trials and protests showing just how divided people are.