S. Korean court issues warrant to detain ex-President Yoon's wife

Kim Keon-hee (C), wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, is seen at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 12, 2025. The Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant to detain Kim Keon-hee Tuesday night, on charges of violating the capital market act, the political funds act and a law on the acceptance of bribes for mediation, saying that the move aimed to prevent Kim from destroying evidence.

Kim was jailed in the Seoul Southern Detention Center in Seoul, where she had been awaiting the court's decision after attending the court hearing on her detention. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)

SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean court issued a warrant to detain Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol who has been kept in custody on insurrection and other charges, a special counsel team said Tuesday night.

The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant, requested by independent counsel Min Joong-ki, on charges of violating the capital market act, the political funds act and a law on the acceptance of bribes for mediation, saying that the move aimed to prevent Kim from destroying evidence.

Kim was jailed in the Seoul Southern Detention Center in Seoul, where she had been awaiting the court's decision after attending the court hearing on her detention.

It marked the first time in the country's constitutional history that ex-presidential couple was simultaneously brought into custody.

Yoon has been held at a separate detention center since July 10 on insurrection charges over his short-lived martial law imposition last December.

Kim was suspected of participating in a stock price manipulation, interfering with the nomination of candidates in the 2022 parliamentary by-elections, and receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church in exchange for business favors.

Kim Keon-hee (C), wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, is seen at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 12, 2025. The Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant to detain Kim Keon-hee Tuesday night, on charges of violating the capital market act, the political funds act and a law on the acceptance of bribes for mediation, saying that the move aimed to prevent Kim from destroying evidence.

Kim was jailed in the Seoul Southern Detention Center in Seoul, where she had been awaiting the court's decision after attending the court hearing on her detention. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)