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Seoul Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee

The court granted her transfer to a southwestern Seoul detention center in solitary confinement over concerns she could tamper with evidence

South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee, wife of impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea August 12, 2025.     JUNG YEON-JE/Pool via REUTERS
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South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee, wife of impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea August 12, 2025.     JUNG YEON-JE/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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Overview

  • The Seoul Central District Court approved a warrant for Kim’s arrest five days after the special counsel filed the request
  • Prosecutors invoked the Capital Market Act, Political Funds Act and anti-bribery laws to support detention over evidence-tampering concerns
  • Kim was transferred immediately to Seoul Nambu Detention Center in southwestern Seoul and placed in a solitary cell
  • Her detention creates the first case of a former South Korean president and first lady being jailed simultaneously
  • Special Counsel Min Joong-ki’s team is continuing to probe 16 allegations against Kim, spanning stock manipulation, election influence and illicit gifts