Prosecutors in South Korea have officially requested an arrest warrant for former First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
This comes just one day after she was questioned for several hours regarding a series of serious allegations involving bribery, stock manipulation, and attempts to sway political decisions.
The request was filed on Thursday by a team led by special prosecutor Oh Jung-hee, marking a major step in one of the three ongoing investigations connected to the former administration.
These investigations were launched after President Lee Jae Myung took office and are centered around former conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol and his inner circle.
Kim Keon Hee is under investigation for violating capital market and political funds laws.
Prosecutors allege that she took part in manipulating stock prices and was involved in receiving illegal gifts.
Some of these exchanges were allegedly made through a fortuneteller, who acted as a link to a member of the Unification Church—a controversial religious group in South Korea.
Kim is also accused of using her influence to affect party nominations during a 2022 parliamentary by-election.
The probe suggests she may have helped shape candidate selections in favor of certain individuals within the conservative bloc.
While Kim offered a brief apology to the public, she has not admitted to any wrongdoing.
During her interrogation, she maintained a low profile and gave minimal responses, suggesting she may deny the charges during further proceedings.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol is currently in detention following his declaration of martial law in December.
If the court approves Kim’s arrest warrant, it would be the first time in South Korea’s history that both a former president and first lady are taken into custody.
Prosecutors also attempted to question Yoon in relation to his wife’s case, but their efforts were unsuccessful due to his strong resistance and concerns about possible physical harm.