Wife of South Korea's jailed ex-president Yoon arrested over corruption allegations

SEOUL — Kim Keon-hee, wife of jailed former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol, has been arrested after a court late on Tuesday issued a warrant following accusations of graft that she denies, a special prosecutor leading a wide-reaching probe said.

Kim is South Korea's only former president's wife to be arrested, joining her husband Yoon in jail as he faces trial following his ouster in April over a botched attempt to impose martial law in December.

Earlier in the day, Kim, wearing a black suit, bowed as she arrived at the court, but did not answer reporters' questions or make a statement. After the hearing ended, she left to await the ruling at a detention center in the capital, Seoul.

The court issued the warrant for Kim's detention, the special prosecutor appointed in early June said in a brief message. The prosecutor's office did not provide further details.

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.

She has been accused of breaking the law over an incident in which she wore a luxury Van Cleef pendant reportedly worth more than 60 million won ($43,000) while attending a NATO summit with her husband in 2022.

The item was not listed in the couple's financial disclosure as required by law, according to the charge.

Kim is also accused of receiving two Chanel bags together valued at 20 million won and a diamond necklace from a religious group as a bribe in return for influence favorable to its business interests.

The prosecution sought Kim's arrest because of the risk of her destroying evidence and interfering with the investigation, a spokesman for the special prosecutor's team told a news briefing after Tuesday's hearing.

The court accepted the argument about the risk of destroying evidence, Yonhap News reported.

The spokesman, Oh Jeong-hee, said Kim had told prosecutors the pendant she wore was a fake one bought 20 years ago.

The prosecution said it was genuine, and given by a construction company for Kim to wear at the summit, Oh said.

Kim's lawyers did not immediately comment on Tuesday but they have previously denied accusations against her and dismissed as groundless speculation reports about some of the gifts she allegedly received.

Yoon is on trial on charges of insurrection, which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

The former president, who also faces charges of abuse of power among others, has denied the wrongdoing and refused to attend trial hearings or questioning by prosecutors.

Agencies Via Xinhua