South Korea awaits ruling on bid to arrest former first lady

12/8/2025 19:29

South Korea's former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, appeared in court for a five-hour hearing on Tuesday, but the judge has yet to issue a ruling on a prosecution request for a warrant to arrest her on accusations of graft.



If detained, she would be 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.



Kim, wearing a black suit, bowed as she arrived, but did not answer reporters' questions or make a statement. After the hearing ended she left to await the ruling at a detention centre in Seoul, the capital, in line with customary practice.



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.