Kim Keon-hee Arrest Warrant Hearing: Background, Key Issues, and Outlook (Aug 12, 2025)
Kim Keon-hee Arrest Warrant Hearing: Background, Key Issues, and Outlook (Aug 12, 2025) Who is she? Kim Keon-hee is the wife of South Korea’s ousted former President Yoon Suk-yeol . She served as First Lady from 2022 to 2024. On August 12, 2025 (KST) , she appeared at the Seoul Central District Court for a judge’s review of a special prosecutor’s request to detain her pending trial—commonly called a “pre-arrest warrant hearing.” A ruling was expected late Tuesday night or overnight, according to multiple outlets. Why this matters to an international audience This case intertwines legal accountability, political transition, and public trust. If the court approves detention, Kim could become the first former presidential spouse in South Korean history to be jailed on criminal charges—an outcome that would underscore how far Korea’s legal institutions will go in pursuing high-profile corruption cases. It also unfolds as her husband, ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol , is alr...