SEOUL – Kim Keon Hee, wife of jailed former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, has been arrested on multiple charges including stock manipulation, bribery, and political interference—marking the first time in the nation’s history that both a former president and first lady have been imprisoned.

During a four-hour court hearing in Seoul on Tuesday, the 52-year-old denied all allegations. However, the court approved her detention, citing a risk of evidence destruction.

Prosecutors allege that Kim earned over 800 million won ($577,940) through a price-rigging scheme involving shares of Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea. While the alleged scheme began before Yoon’s presidency, it continued to shadow his administration.

Kim is also accused of accepting luxury gifts—including two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace—from the controversial Unification Church in return for business favours. Additional charges include meddling in parliamentary candidate nominations during the 2022 by-elections and last year’s general elections.

Appearing in court dressed in black, Kim told reporters: “I sincerely apologise for causing trouble despite being a person of no importance.”

Yoon, detained in January over an alleged failed martial law bid, had previously vetoed three opposition-led bills calling for a special counsel probe into allegations against his wife. The last veto came in November—just a week before he declared martial law.

The special counsel investigation was launched in June this year after Yoon’s political rival, Lee Jae Myung, assumed the presidency.