Kim Keon-hee faces potential release as detention period nears expiration

Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, faces a critical legal juncture as her current detention period is set to expire on August 31. She is currently held on charges including stock manipulation, bribery involving the Unification Church, and illegal receipt of opinion poll services. While her previous sentence was reduced to five years in the appellate court, the Supreme Court's final ruling is pending.

To prevent her release, a special prosecution team has requested the Supreme Court to issue an additional arrest warrant related to a separate 'selling of offices' case involving allegations of bribery for political appointments. This case has been assigned to the Supreme Court's second division, with Justice Oh Kyung-mi serving as the presiding judge. If no final sentence is delivered or no new warrant is issued by the deadline, Kim may be released to await trial without detention.

Amidst these legal proceedings, former administration official Jeong Ji-won shared videos on social media depicting the former president and Kim singing together at home prior to their detention. Some observers suggest these posts may be an attempt to build public sympathy regarding Kim's health, following reports of a surge in civil complaints regarding her medical condition at the Seoul Southern Detention Center.