Ex-South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Jailed Amid Corruption Probe

Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee began her first day in jail on Wednesday following her arrest on charges including bribery, stock fraud, and influence peddling. She is being held in a solitary cell at the Seoul Nambu Detention Center, a modern facility overseen by a female warden. Despite her high-profile status, officials say she will be treated like any other inmate, though with slight adjustments to her routine for security and privacy reasons.

Kim’s arrest was approved late Tuesday after a court cited concerns she might destroy evidence. Her lawyers have denied all accusations and dismissed speculation over alleged gifts linked to her case. Kim, a wealthy businesswoman and art curator, apologised last week for causing public concern, calling herself “a nobody” during questioning.

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Her cell is sparsely furnished with a small table and a floor mattress, and she will receive standard prison meals costing about $1 each. On her first morning, breakfast included toast, jam, sausages, and salad. She will have limited exercise time and separate access to showers to avoid other inmates. This marks Kim’s first time in prison, unlike her husband, ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has already spent over 100 days behind bars.

Kim Keon Hee’s imprisonment comes amid a deep political and personal fall from grace for the former first couple. Her husband, ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, is currently jailed on charges of insurrection over his failed attempt to impose martial law. Before these legal troubles, the pair lived in a luxury apartment owned mostly by Kim, reflecting her independent wealth and business success.

Kim has been a controversial figure in South Korea, known for her strong political influence on Yoon, her public fashion choices, and her advocacy for causes such as banning dog meat consumption. Analysts and former colleagues have described her as a politically strategic thinker who played a decisive role in her husband’s rise to the presidency in 2022.

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Her current health is reportedly poor, and her legal team has not confirmed if she will face further questioning immediately. The scandals surrounding her, both before and after Yoon’s presidency, often overshadowed his leadership and contributed to his political downfall.

With both Kim and Yoon facing serious charges, the situation has become one of the most dramatic political scandals in South Korea in recent years, highlighting the volatile intersection of power, wealth, and influence in the country’s political sphere.