Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
South Korea's top court hears request to keep Kim Keon Hee in custody
South Korea's Supreme Court is holding a hearing on whether former first lady Kim Keon Hee should remain in custody.
Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been held at a detention center since August 2025 and will join the hearing virtually.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team asked for a new arrest warrant in a bribery-related case.
Her existing warrant, tied to a corruption case, expires Saturday before a final verdict.
The court is also reviewing appeal court sentences of four years in the corruption case and five years in the bribery case.
The cases involve allegations including stock price manipulation, luxury gifts and favors for job appointments or business.
The Supreme Court may decide on the new warrant later Tuesday.
South Korea’s Supreme Court was scheduled to hear a request for a new arrest warrant to keep former first lady Kim Keon Hee in custody.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team sought the warrant in a bribery-related case.
Kim’s existing arrest warrant in a corruption case is due to expire Saturday, before a final verdict.
Kim was expected to attend the hearing virtually from the Seoul Nambu Detention Center, where she has been held since August 2025.
The court was expected to decide on the request as early as later on October 27.
- Who
- Former first lady Kim Keon Hee, and the Supreme Court, which is considering the warrant request.
- What
- The court was scheduled to hear a request for a new arrest warrant to keep Kim in custody.
- When
- October 27, 2026. The hearing was set for 2:30 p.m.
- Where
- The Supreme Court. Kim was to attend virtually from the Seoul Nambu Detention Center.
- Why
- Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team requested the warrant in the bribery-related case because Kim’s existing warrant in the corruption case will expire Saturday before a final verdict.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Proceedings in Kim’s corruption case were referred to the Supreme Court’s full bench.
Kim began being held at the Seoul Nambu Detention Center.
The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear the request for a new arrest warrant.
- Hearing
- Scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on October 27, 2026
- Warrant request
- Made by special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team
- Current detention
- Kim has been held at Seoul Nambu Detention Center since August 2025
- Corruption sentence
- Four years, imposed by an appellate court bench
- Bribery sentence
- Five years, imposed by an appellate court bench