Top court to hold hearing on new arrest warrant for jailed ex-first lady

The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear Tuesday whether to issue a new arrest warrant for jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee in Seoul. Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team sought the warrant in her bribery-related case because her existing warrant in the corruption case expires Saturday, before a final verdict. Kim was to attend virtually from the Seoul Nambu Detention Center, where she has been held since August 2025. The court could decide as early as later Tuesday.

The hearing was scheduled for 2:30 p.m., and Kim was to participate remotely from the Seoul Nambu Detention Center.

The Supreme Court is reviewing appellate sentences of four years in prison in the corruption case and five years in the bribery case.

The corruption case proceedings were referred to the Supreme Court’s full bench in July.

The corruption trial concerns allegations of stock price manipulation, luxury gifts from the Unification Church and free opinion poll results from a self-described power broker.

The bribery case concerns allegations that Kim accepted expensive gifts in exchange for job appointments and business favors.

Published Oct 27, 2026 9:49 am KST

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee leaves the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Aug. 12, 2025, after attending a hearing to determine the validity of her arrest warrant. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwon

The Supreme Court was scheduled to hold a hearing Tuesday to decide whether to issue a new arrest warrant for jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee to continue to keep her in custody.

The hearing was set to take place at 2:30 p.m. after special counsel Min Joong-ki's team requested the warrant for Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Kim is currently standing trial at the Supreme Court in two separate cases — the first on corruption charges and the other on bribery-related charges.

Min's team requested the new warrant based on the second case, as her existing warrant on corruption charges will expire Saturday before a final verdict.

She will attend her arrest warrant hearing virtually from the Seoul Nambu Detention Center, where she has been held since August 2025.

The top court is expected to make a decision on the warrant as early as later in the day.

The hearing takes place as the Supreme Court is currently reviewing Kim's sentences by appellate court benches — a four-year prison sentence in the corruption case and a five-year prison sentence in the bribery case.

The top court's proceedings for the first case have been drawn out after they were referred to its full bench in July.

The trial centers on charges that Kim was involved in a stock price manipulation scheme, accepted luxury gifts from the Unification Church and received free opinion poll results from a self-proclaimed power broker.

The second trial revolves around charges that Kim accepted expensive gifts from multiple people in return for job appointments and business favors.

韩国最高法院原定于周二审理是否对被关押在首尔的前第一夫人金建熙发出新的逮捕令。特别检察官闵仲基的团队以受贿案为由申请签发新的逮捕令，因为她目前在腐败案中的逮捕令将于周六到期，而该案尚未最终判决。金建熙将通过视频连线的方式从她自2025年8月以来一直被关押的首尔南部拘留中心出庭。法院最早可能在周二晚些时候做出裁决。

听证会定于下午 2:30 举行，金某将从首尔南部拘留中心远程参加。

最高法院正在复审贪污案中判处的四年监禁和受贿案中判处的五年监禁的上诉判决。

7月，这起腐败案件的审理程序被提交至最高法院全体法官席。

这起腐败案审判涉及操纵股价、接受统一教会赠送的奢侈品以及一位自称权力掮客的人提供的免费民意调查结果等指控。

这起贿赂案涉及金正恩被指控接受贵重礼物以换取工作任命和商业利益。

发布于2026年10月27日上午9:49（韩国标准时间）

2025年8月12日，前第一夫人金建熙在出席完关于其逮捕令有效性的听证会后离开位于首尔南部的首尔中央地方法院。韩国时报摄影师：高英权

最高法院原定于周二举行听证会，决定是否对被监禁的前第一夫人金建熙发出新的逮捕令，以继续将其拘留。

特别检察官闵仲基的团队要求签发逮捕令，逮捕前总统尹锡烈的妻子金某，听证会定于下午 2 点 30 分举行。

金某目前在最高法院面临两起不同的案件审判——一起是腐败指控，另一起是受贿指控。

由于闵某因贪污指控而持有的逮捕令将在周六最终判决前到期，因此闵某的团队根据第二起案件申请了新的逮捕令。

她将从首尔南部拘留中心通过视频连线参加逮捕令听证会，她自 2025 年 8 月以来一直被关押在那里。

最高法院预计最早将于当天晚些时候就逮捕令作出裁决。

此次听证会举行之际，最高法院正在对金某的判决进行复审，该判决由上诉法院法官作出——金某因腐败案被判处四年监禁，因受贿案被判处五年监禁。

最高法院对第一起案件的审理程序在7月份提交全体法官审理后一直拖延至今。

审判的核心是指控金某参与操纵股价计划、接受统一教会的奢侈品礼物，以及从一位自称的权力掮客那里获得免费的民意调查结果。

第二起审判围绕着金某被指控接受多人赠送的贵重礼物，以换取工作任命和商业利益。