SHUMAILA ASLAM
Scandinavian News Agency
Bureau Chief – Pakistan
Seoul – South Korean prosecutors have formally requested an arrest warrant for former first lady Kim Keon Hee, just one day after an intense interrogation over multiple charges, including bribery, stock manipulation, and interference in political nominations.
The announcement was made Thursday by special prosecutor Oh Jung-hee, who said the request was filed at 1:21 p.m. local time. The charges also include violations of capital market laws, political funding laws, and election laws.
This comes amid ongoing political upheaval, as former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim’s husband, remains in detention over his controversial martial law declaration in December, which briefly suspended civilian government before being overturned by parliament. Yoon was later impeached and removed from office in April, triggering a snap election in June.
Prosecutors attempted to bring Yoon in for questioning on Thursday regarding his alleged role in obstructing investigations against his wife, but the attempt failed due to what was described as “fierce resistance and concerns about potential injury.” A previous attempt saw Yoon lying on his cell floor in his underwear to resist questioning.
If granted, the arrest warrant would mark an unprecedented moment in South Korea’s history — the first time both a former president and first lady would be under arrest simultaneously.
Kim, 52, denied all charges during questioning. “I sincerely apologize for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance,” she said upon arriving at the prosecutors’ office. Her past has been fraught with controversy, including a viral 2022 video in which she accepted a Dior handbag from a self-proclaimed fan, sparking nationwide criticism.
As president, Yoon had vetoed three special investigation bills passed by the opposition-controlled parliament, all aimed at probing allegations against Kim. The final veto was issued in November, just a week before his martial law declaration.
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