Seoul: Former first lady Kim Keon Hee has been arrested on charges related to a stock manipulation scheme, election meddling, and bribery, marking a historic first as she and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, become the first former presidential couple to be detained simultaneously.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant against Kim late Tuesday, citing concerns that she could potentially destroy evidence. This warrant followed a request made last week by special counsel Min Joong-ki's team, which charged her with violating the Capital Market Act, the Political Funds Act, and laws regarding the acceptance of bribes for mediation.

During the hearing on Tuesday preceding her arrest, special prosecutors highlighted the risk of evidence destruction, while Kim's lawyers contended that she had been cooperative with the investigation and was in poor health. The charges against Kim include her alleged involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme with Deutsch Motors, meddling in candidate nominations for upcoming elections, and receiving luxury gifts from the Unification Church in exchange for business favors.

Kim expressed remorse while appearing for questioning last Wednesday, describing herself as "a nobody" who has caused public concern. Despite her apology, she reportedly denied all charges during the interrogation.

The investigation by the special counsel involves 16 criminal allegations, including suspicions of altering the endpoint of an expressway project to benefit her family's landholdings in Yangpyeong and receiving preferential treatment in an apartment construction project. The arrest warrant is expected to facilitate the investigation into these additional allegations.

Initially, Kim was to be taken to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, but a request from the Uiwang facility, where Yoon is currently detained for an unrelated charge, led to her relocation to the Seoul Southern Detention Center.