South Korean investigators seek arrest of wife of jailed ex-President
Yoon
[August 07, 2025]
By KIM TONG-HYUNG
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean investigators on Thursday
requested a warrant to arrest the wife of jailed former President Yoon
Suk Yeol, a day after questioning her over suspicions including bribery,
stock manipulation and political influence-peddling.
Yoon, for the second time in a week, resisted an attempt to compel him
to appear for questioning in his wife's case, forcing prison officials
to abandon their efforts after an hourlong struggle due to concerns of
injury, the investigators said. The detention warrant for Yoon expires
Thursday.
The investigation targeting Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, is one of three
separate special prosecutor probes launched under the government of new
liberal President Lee Jae Myung related to Yoon, who was removed from
office in April and rearrested last month over his brief imposition of
martial law in December.
The investigation team questioned Kim for about seven hours on Wednesday
on various allegations, including claims that Yoon and Kim exerted undue
influence over the conservative party’s candidate nominations for a
parliamentary by-election in 2022.
Kim is also suspected of receiving a necklace and other gifts through a
fortuneteller acting as an intermediary for a Unification Church
official seeking business favors, and of possible involvement in a stock
price manipulation scheme.
The team said they listed multiple charges in the warrant request for
Kim, including violations of financial market and political funding laws
and acceptance of bribes.
In her brief comments to reporters as she appeared for questioning on
Wednesday, Kim issued a vague apology for causing public concern but
also hinted that she would deny the accusations against her, calling
herself “someone insignificant.”
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Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korea's ousted former President Yoon
Suk Yeol, arrives at the special prosecutor's office in Seoul, South
Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Yoon, who faces a high-stakes trial on rebellion and other charges,
previously resisted an attempt by investigators on Friday last week
to bring him to their office for questioning over his wife.
Investigators said he took off his prison uniform and lay down on
the floor of his cell in his underwear until they gave up.
Investigators were less specific about Yoon’s actions on Thursday
but said he “strongly resisted” and that there were concerns that he
might be injured if the struggle continued. Yoon’s lawyers
criticized the repeated attempts to force him to appear for
questioning, stating that he has already made clear his intention to
exercise his right to remain silent and accusing investigators of
infringing upon his rights in order to publicly shame him.
Yoon’s ill-fated imposition of martial law on Dec. 3 came during a
seemingly routine standoff with the liberals, whom he labeled as
“anti-state” forces abusing their legislative majority to obstruct
his agenda. Some political opponents have questioned whether the
conservative leader’s actions were at least partly motivated by
growing allegations against his wife, which hurt his approval
ratings and gave political ammunition to his rivals.
While in office, Yoon repeatedly dismissed calls to investigate his
wife, denouncing them as baseless political attacks.
After winning the early presidential election in June, new liberal
President Lee Jae Myung approved legislation to launch sweeping
special investigations into Yoon’s martial law debacle, the
allegations against his wife, and the 2023 drowning death of a
marine during a flood rescue operation, an incident the liberals
claim Yoon’s government tried to cover up.
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