Court to Review Kim Keonhee's Arrest Warrant on August 12... Will Yoon Couple Be Detained Simultaneously?

Detention Hearing Scheduled for 10:10 a.m. on the 12th
Decision on Detention Expected as Early as Late Afternoon the Same Day

A detention hearing for First Lady Kim Keonhee, for whom an arrest warrant has been requested on charges including violations of the Capital Markets Act, will be held next week. If the arrest warrant is issued for Kim, it will mark the first time in history that a former presidential couple has been detained simultaneously.

Yonhap News

According to the legal community on August 7, Judge Jeong Jaeuk, who is in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, will conduct a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) for Kim, who faces charges including violations of the Capital Markets Act, at 10:10 a.m. on August 12.

The special counsel team investigating Kim filed for an arrest warrant on this day, just one day after conducting its first summons investigation of her. The charges listed in the arrest warrant are violations of the Act on the Capital Market and Financial Investment Business, violations of the Political Funds Act, and receiving bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes?a total of three charges.

The special counsel team is expected to argue that there is a high risk of evidence destruction, given that Kim denies most of the allegations against her. Kim's side maintains that the special counsel's indictment is excessive. They are also expected to argue that Kim complied with the special counsel's summons and that the alleged crimes do not constitute criminal acts.

Since former President Yoon Sukyeol was rearrested by the special counsel investigating the insurrection case on July 10 and is currently being held at Seoul Detention Center, if Kim is also detained, it will be the first time a former presidential couple has been detained at the same time.