First lady’s last stand? South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee battles jail time

South Korea’s scandal-plagued former first lady Kim Keon-hee walked into court on Tuesday, head bowed and looking visibly tense, for a hearing that could make her the first ex-presidential spouse in the country’s history to be jailed on criminal charges.

Wearing a dark jacket and skirt with a white blouse, her hair pulled back, Kim brushed past pool reporters without a word as she climbed the stairs to the courtroom.

A ruling on whether to remand her for questioning or allow her to remain free during the investigation is expected as early as Tuesday night. If the court approves her arrest, it will mean an unprecedented fall from grace for a power broker who once wielded behind-the-scenes influence.

Prosecutors and Kim’s lawyers are expected to clash fiercely over the detention request.

Initially, prosecutors had designated the Seoul Detention Centre – where her husband, Yoon Suk-yeol, is currently held – as her holding facility, but later switched to Seoul Nambu Detention Centre to avoid housing the former first couple together.