South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee has been arrested after a court late Tuesday issued a warrant to arrest her following accusations of graft that she denies, a special prosecutor leading a wide-reaching probe said.
Kim is South Korea’s only former first lady to be arrested, joining her husband, ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, in jail as he faces trial following his ouster in April over a botched bid to impose martial law in December.
Earlier in the day, Kim, wearing a black suit, bowed as she arrived at court, but did not answer reporters’ questions or make a statement. After the hearing ended she left to await the ruling at a detention center in Seoul, the capital, in line with customary practice.
The court issued the warrant for Kim’s detention, the special prosecutor appointed in early June said in a brief message. The prosecutor’s office did not provide further details.
The charges against her, punishable by years in prison, range from stock fraud to bribery and illegal influence peddling that have implicated business owners, religious figures and a political power broker.
