South Korean prosecutors have formally requested an arrest warrant for former First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, following an intense interrogation session over multiple allegations, including bribery and stock manipulation.
The special counsel made the request at 1:21 pm (0421 GMT) on Thursday, just a day after the 52-year-old underwent hours of questioning at their Seoul office.
“We requested an arrest warrant for Kim at 1:21 pm (0421 GMT),” the council confirmed in a brief statement to reporters.
If granted, this would mark the first time in South Korean history that both a former president and a former first lady are arrested.
Kim, the wife of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, arrived at the prosecutors’ office on Wednesday. Addressing reporters, she said: “I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance.” Local media reports say she denied all allegations during the interrogation.
Kim Keon Hee has been the subject of multiple controversies in recent years. Public outrage intensified after a 2022 video showed her receiving a Dior handbag from a self-identified fan. She has also been accused of meddling in the nomination process for parliamentary candidates in her husband’s political party, a potential breach of South Korea’s election laws.
As president, Yoon vetoed three special investigation bills passed by the opposition-led parliament. These bills sought to initiate formal probes into the various allegations against his wife. The final veto came in late November.
Just one week later, Yoon made a controversial move by declaring martial law — an action that was swiftly overturned by parliament. This drastic measure led to his impeachment and removal from office in April, with a snap election held in June to fill the power vacuum.
Yoon, a former top prosecutor, is currently in detention over his decision to declare martial law in December, a move that briefly suspended civilian rule before it was reversed.
