Kim Keon-hee's additional warrant hearing wraps up in 45 minutes
The Supreme Court's hearing on an additional arrest warrant for First Lady Kim Keon-hee concluded after just 45 minutes on the 27th. The Supreme Court's Second Division, presided over by Justice Oh Kyung-mi, held a closed-door hearing from 2:30 p.m. that day at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, regarding charges of brokered bribery against Kim under the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes Act. Kim, who is being held at Seoul Southern Detention Center, participated via video link. The hearing proceeded with statements from Kim, her attorneys, and the special prosecution team, followed by closing remarks, and ended at 3:15 p.m.
During the hearing, Kim spoke directly for roughly 10 minutes, denying the allegations and arguing, "I was never involved in personnel matters—it is impossible under the system." She also cited her declining health and expressed a wish to be released for medical treatment.
The special prosecution team led by Min Joong-ki argued that there were sufficient grounds for detention and that, given the lengthy prison sentences imposed in lower courts, the risks of flight and evidence destruction were substantial, making an additional arrest warrant necessary. "What we are asserting is that this case itself contains grounds for detention," the team said. Kim's defense countered that the expiration of her current detention period is not grounds for a new warrant, calling the additional warrant an improper form of "collateral detention."
Kim was sentenced to seven years in prison at first instance in the three major scandal cases—the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, the Myung Tae-kyun opinion polling case, and the Unification Church bribery case—and received a reduced sentence of four years in the appeals ruling on April 28. The Supreme Court's final ruling has been delayed after the Myung Tae-kyun polling case was referred to the full bench for review.
Kim's detention period in the three major scandal cases expires on the 31st, and the special prosecution team requested an additional arrest warrant from the appeals court handling the job-selling scandal before her detention expires. In the job-selling case, Kim was sentenced to seven years at first instance, which was reduced to five years in the appeals ruling in September. If the additional warrant is issued, her total detention could be extended by up to eight months.
The court's decision on the warrant is expected as early as the night of the 27th, and no later than the 31st, when her detention expires.
