https://www.scmp.com/rss/524528/feed The latest news and top stories on, Min Joong-ki a prominent legal figure in South Korea, formerly serving as chief judge of the Seoul Central District Court. He currently leads a high-profile special counsel investigation into former first lady Kim Keon-hee. Appointed by President Lee Jae-myung, his responsibilities include probing 16 allegations, such as stock manipulation and alleged interference in election nominations. He has assembled a substantial team of prosecutors and initiated a... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong A South Korean court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon-hee to 20 months in prison for corruption on Wednesday but acquitted her of alleged stock manipulation and other charges. While the ruling marked the first time that both members of a presidential couple were convicted of crimes in South Korea, analysts described Kim’s lighter punishment as a “courtroom victory” after prosecutors sought a 15-year jail term, a 2 billion won (US$1.4 million) fine and 948 million won in forfeiture for the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3341511/south-koreas-ex-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-gets-20-months-jail-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3341511/south-koreas-ex-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-gets-20-months-jail-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:27:00 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong Long-rumoured allegations surrounding South Korea’s former first lady, Kim Keon-hee, were laid out in unprecedented detail after a special prosecutor concluded a six-month investigation into her conduct, offering official clarity but leaving key questions unresolved. The findings, presented to the public on Monday, offered the clearest official account yet of claims that Kim, the wife of ousted former president Yoon Suk-yeol, abused her proximity to power – from accepting luxury gifts to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3338064/probe-south-koreas-kim-keon-hee-ends-unresolved-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3338064/probe-south-koreas-kim-keon-hee-ends-unresolved-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:20 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong As jailed South Korean ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol continues to defy prosecutors’ attempts to question him over his martial law debacle, his wife Kim Keon-hee – who has also been detained – faces fresh bribery accusations amid a growing list of scandals involving luxury brands and political favours. After meeting her for more than two hours on Wednesday, one of her lawyers said Kim had “not eaten a single meal” since being detained the previous afternoon, adding “her health condition is currently... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3321761/jailing-south-koreas-kim-keon-hee-reveals-fresh-bribery-claims-over-us40000-watch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3321761/jailing-south-koreas-kim-keon-hee-reveals-fresh-bribery-claims-over-us40000-watch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:09 +0000 Agencies Agencies South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee was arrested late on Tuesday after a court issued a warrant following accusations of corruption that she denies, a special prosecutor leading a wide-reaching probe said. Kim is South Korea’s only former first lady to be arrested, joining her husband, ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol, in jail as he faces trial following his ousting in April over a botched bid to impose martial law in December. In granting a special prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3321632/south-korean-court-approves-arrest-ex-president-yoon-suk-yeols-wife-amid-bribery-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3321632/south-korean-court-approves-arrest-ex-president-yoon-suk-yeols-wife-amid-bribery-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:40:11 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea’s scandal-plagued former first lady Kim Keon-hee walked into court on Tuesday, head bowed and looking visibly tense, for a hearing that could make her the first ex-presidential spouse in the country’s history to be jailed on criminal charges. Wearing a dark jacket and skirt with a white blouse, her hair pulled back, Kim brushed past pool reporters without a word as she climbed the stairs to the courtroom. A ruling on whether to remand her for questioning or allow her to remain free... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3321513/south-koreas-former-first-lady-battles-jail-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3321513/south-koreas-former-first-lady-battles-jail-time?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 02:28:35 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong Former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol is framing himself as a victim of political persecution as he continues to defy investigators seeking to question him over his corruption allegations and aborted martial law bid, according to analysts. Prosecutors failed to bring Yoon out from his detention cell for questioning for a second time on Thursday, with one analyst saying he is aiming to rally public sympathy and galvanise his conservative support base through his unyielding resistance. “By... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3321124/south-koreas-yoon-claims-human-rights-abuse-over-failed-attempt-question-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3321124/south-koreas-yoon-claims-human-rights-abuse-over-failed-attempt-question-him?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:10 +0000