Kim Keon Hee arrested on corruption charges

Now to the latest on the investigations involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol and former first lady Kim Keon Hee.

Following her arrest on corruption charges, the special counsel leading the probe says Kim will appear for questioning tomorrow morning.

This marks the first time in South Korea's history that a former presidential couple has been detained at the same time.

Byeon Ye-young reports on the developments.

Kim Keon Hee, the wife of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested late on Tuesday on charges of stock manipulation, interference in party nominations, and political influence-peddling.

A special counsel team set up to investigate Kim has summoned the former first lady to appear for questioning at 10 AM on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the special counsel team has launched a raid on the People Power Party to investigate allegations that large numbers of Unification Church members joined the party.

On Wednesday morning, investigators were dispatched to the PPP's central headquarters in Yeouido to secure electronic data needed for the probe.

They presented a search and seizure warrant and received the necessary materials through voluntary submission.

Kim is accused of taking part as a "funding source" in the Deutsche Motors stock-rigging scheme from 2009 to 2012, meddling in People Power Party candidate selections in recent elections, and accepting an illicit lobbying request from a "broker" from the Unification Church in 2022.

The Seoul Central District Court cited "concerns over destruction of evidence" as the main reason for issuing the arrest warrant.

Kim was moved to the Seoul Southern Detention Center, where she waited in a holding room for detainees before she was transferred to a housing unit.

Her arrest means all privileges as a former first lady were revoked, and her security detail was fully withdrawn.

However, like her husband, she will be assigned a dedicated correctional officer and kept separate from other inmates during exercise and bathing.

Kim first appeared for questioning in front of the special counsel team last week, where she made a public apology.

"I am truly sorry that a nobody like myself has caused concern for the people. I will faithfully undergo the questioning."

Her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, is behind bars on insurrection charges.

While several other former South Korean presidents have previously served prison terms, this is the first time in the nation's history that both a former president and their spouse have been jailed at the same time.

Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.