Special prosecutor seeks additional arrest warrant for Kim Keon-hee from the Supreme Court
With four days left before the expiration of former First Lady Kim Keon-hee's detention period, the special prosecutor has requested an additional arrest warrant from the Supreme Court.
As the detention period for Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, nears its expiration on the 31st of this month, the Kim Keon-hee special prosecution team (Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki) judged on the 15th that continued detention is necessary and applied to the Supreme Court for an additional arrest warrant on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (brokerage bribery). If the Supreme Court issues a new warrant, Kim will remain in custody rather than being released and will continue to stand trial under detention.
Special Prosecutor's Procedural Response Ahead of Detention Deadline
Under the Criminal Procedure Act, detention periods are limited to 10 days for suspects and six months after indictment. For defendants under special prosecution investigation, the investigative or judicial authority must determine whether continued detention is warranted as the detention period approaches expiration. This request was made in accordance with such procedural requirements, showing that the special prosecutor sees continued grounds for Kim's detention even at the trial stage.
The special prosecutor applied directly to the Supreme Court for the additional warrant because the authority to review detention extensions for defendants rests with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court previously issued the initial arrest warrant for Kim, and it will now re-examine whether grounds for detention, such as risk of flight or evidence destruction, are again recognized.
Trial Schedule and Direction of the Investigation
Kim is currently on trial on charges including brokerage bribery. If her detention is maintained, the remaining trial proceedings will take place while she is in custody; conversely, if the warrant is rejected, the possibility opens for her release on bail. From the special prosecutor's perspective, the request reflects the judgment that an extension of detention is needed to preserve evidence and keep the trial moving at pace.
Since the Supreme Court's decision must come before the 31st, the next two weeks or so are expected to be the decisive moment for Kim's detention status. Even if a warrant is issued, whether the court grants bail remains a separate matter.
Political Reactions and Fallout
The Kim Keon-hee special prosecution investigation, triggered by suspicions surrounding the so-called luxury handbag scandal and stock manipulation allegations, has unfolded in tandem with the political schedule following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law crisis. News of the special prosecutor's additional warrant request drew split reactions, with the ruling party calling it undue pressure on the trial, while the other side stressed the need to see the investigation through to completion.
In the National Assembly, discussions continue over related legislation and follow-up measures to the special prosecution. The Democratic Party of Korea is reportedly considering pushing again for a special prosecutor law after the audit, building on the activities of the special committee investigating suspicions of fabricated indictments. Lawmakers Hwang Gyu-don and Kang Seung-pyo of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, who have been involved in prosecution reform legislation, have also called for measures to ensure the effectiveness of the special prosecutor system.
The Supreme Court's ruling on the warrant is expected between late this week and next. If issued, the special prosecution trial can accelerate while Kim remains in custody; if rejected, Kim's side is expected to move forward in earnest with a bail application and appeals strategy. Legal battles are likely to intensify around the time of the detention period's expiration.
