The South Korean legal landscape has seen an unprecedented development with a court ordering the arrest of Kim Keon Hee, the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol. This marks a significant moment as they become the first presidential couple in South Korean history to be simultaneously arrested over criminal allegations. Special prosecutors had requested the warrant after a thorough investigation, citing concerns that Kim Keon Hee posed a risk of destroying evidence related to various suspected crimes.

Kim Keon Hee faces a multitude of serious accusations. These include allegations of bribery, particularly involving a luxury necklace reportedly worth $43,000, which investigators suspect was linked to an employment offer for the chairman's son-in-law. She is also suspected of receiving other gifts through a fortuneteller who acted as an intermediary for a Unification Church official seeking business favors. Furthermore, investigators are probing her possible involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme, specifically tied to a local BMW dealership company, and whether she and her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, exerted undue influence on the conservative People Power Party to nominate a specific candidate in a 2022 parliamentary by-election, allegedly at the request of an election broker. Her close associates are also under scrutiny, with one recently arrested for allegedly leveraging connections to the former first lady for business investments.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, former President Yoon Suk Yeol has repeatedly resisted attempts by investigators to compel him to appear for questioning in his wife’s case. Despite investigators' efforts, including an hour-long struggle that raised concerns of injury, Yoon, who is already facing a high-stakes trial on rebellion and other charges, has consistently exercised his right to remain silent. On one occasion, he reportedly took off his prison uniform and lay on his cell floor in his underwear to avoid transfer. His lawyers have criticized these repeated attempts, accusing investigators of infringing upon his rights and trying to publicly shame him.

The legal troubles for the presidential couple unfolded amidst a broader political upheaval in South Korea. Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office in April and subsequently re-arrested last month following his brief and ill-fated imposition of martial law on December 3. This controversial move, which lasted only hours before lawmakers revoked it, occurred during a tense standoff with the liberal opposition, whom Yoon had labeled "anti-state" forces. Some political opponents have speculated that Yoon’s drastic actions might have been partly motivated by the escalating allegations against his wife, which had begun to impact his approval ratings and provide ammunition to his rivals. While in office, Yoon had consistently dismissed calls for investigations into his wife, branding them as baseless political attacks.

The current wave of investigations, including those against Kim Keon Hee, Yoon's martial law debacle, and a 2023 marine drowning incident that the previous administration allegedly tried to cover up, were launched under the new liberal government of President Lee Jae Myung. Appointed in June, Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki leads the team. Kim Keon Hee, during her brief comments to reporters prior to her questioning, offered a vague apology for causing public concern but also hinted at denying the accusations, referring to herself as "someone insignificant." The court’s decision to grant the arrest warrant underscores the gravity of the charges and the authorities' determination to pursue the multiple facets of this high-profile case.