South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee has been arrested after a court issued a detention warrant late Tuesday, following graft allegations that she denies, according to the special prosecutor leading the investigation.

Kim has now become the only former first lady in the country’s history to be arrested, joining her husband, ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, in jail. Yoon is currently facing trial after his ouster in April over an attempted imposition of martial law in December.

Earlier Tuesday, Kim arrived at court in a black suit, bowing to reporters but offering no comment before her hearing. She later left to await the court’s decision at a detention center in Seoul, in accordance with standard procedure. The special prosecutor, appointed in early June, confirmed the arrest warrant in a short statement without providing further details.

Serious Charges and Luxury Gift Scandal

Van Cleef First Lady
She was spotted wearing Van Cleef bracelets which go for over $40,000 per piece.

The charges against Kim, which carry potential prison sentences of several years, include stock fraud, bribery, and illegal influence peddling. The allegations involve a network of business owners, religious leaders, and political figures. One notable accusation centers on her wearing a luxury Van Cleef pendant worth over 60 million won ($43,000) during a NATO summit with her husband in 2022. Prosecutors allege the piece was gifted by a domestic construction company and should have been declared in the couple’s financial disclosure, as required by law.

Kim is also accused of accepting two Chanel handbags valued at 20 million won and a diamond necklace from a religious group in exchange for favorable influence toward its business interests. Prosecutors pushed for her arrest over concerns she might destroy evidence or obstruct the investigation, a claim the court accepted, according to Yonhap News.

Defense and Prosecution Dispute

Special prosecutor’s office spokesperson Oh Jeong-hee said Kim claimed the pendant was a fake purchased two decades ago in Hong Kong. Prosecutors, however, maintain it is authentic and tied to improper favors. Kim’s legal team has not commented on Tuesday’s developments, but they have consistently denied all allegations and dismissed reports of the alleged gifts as baseless speculation.

Meanwhile, Yoon faces charges of insurrection, abuse of power, and other offenses. These charges carry the possibility of life imprisonment or even the death penalty. He has denied wrongdoing and has refused to participate in trial proceedings or answer questions from prosecutors.