Seoul, South Korea — former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, are both in custody as of August 14, 2025, marking the first time in the nation’s history that an ex-presidential couple has been detained simultaneously.
Yoon, impeached and ousted in April 2025 over a failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024, was taken back into custody on July 10, 2025, after a Seoul court approved a fresh arrest warrant on charges of insurrection, abuse of power, and other related offenses.
Kim, the former first lady, was arrested on August 12, 2025, following a court-issued warrant citing risks of evidence destruction, with accusations including bribery, stock manipulation, and election interference.
The Seoul Central District Court detained her on three primary charges, including violations of capital market laws, financial investment regulations, and political funds laws, potentially facing years in prison if convicted.
The arrests have intensified scrutiny on the Yoon administration’s scandals, with prosecutors alleging Kim accepted luxury gifts such as a Van Cleef pendant worth approximately 60 million won, Chanel bags, and a diamond necklace from influential figures, alongside manipulating stock prices at a BMW dealership.
Yoon’s custody stems from his controversial martial law declaration, which lasted only hours before being overturned by parliament, leading to his impeachment and removal.
A special counsel investigation has gained momentum with Kim’s detention, as she is held in a 6.6-square-meter solitary cell with a mattress on the floor at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, where Yoon is also imprisoned.
Public outrage has mounted, with petitions and media reports highlighting the couple’s alleged involvement with business owners, religious leaders, and political brokers in schemes punishable by severe sentences.
Pre-trial developments underscore the gravity of the case, with Yoon refusing to cooperate during a July 2025 raid, appearing in underwear and declining to dress or stand for hours before being forcibly detained. Kim’s arrest warrant hearing emphasized fears of obstruction, a claim her defense denied, but the court sided with prosecutors.
The couple’s legal troubles trace back to ongoing probes since Yoon’s presidency, including Kim’s alleged influence peddling and Yoon’s botched emergency powers bid, which shocked the international community. As investigations continue, the case sets a precedent for accountability in South Korean politics, drawing comparisons to past presidential scandals while highlighting the nation’s commitment to combating corruption at the highest levels
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