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| The special prosecutor requested an arrest warrant for Kim Keon-hee on August 7, 2025. |
If Kim Keon-hee Is Arrested, Here’s Why She’ll Likely Be Held at Seoul Detention Center
If an arrest warrant is executed against Kim Keon-hee, South Korea’s First Lady, there’s a high likelihood that she will be detained at the Seoul Detention Center.
How Is a Detention Facility Determined?
There are several factors that determine where a detainee is held.
The most critical one is jurisdiction. The current special prosecutor's investigation is based in Seoul, and all relevant warrants have been requested through the Seoul Central District Court. High-profile cases involving senior officials or public figures are almost always handled under the jurisdiction of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
In general, when suspects are detained due to flight risks or evidence tampering concerns, authorities aim to conduct investigations while keeping them under controlled custody. That’s why detainees are typically placed in the detention center closest to the investigating body.
In this case, the most likely facility is Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province—the same facility where her husband, former president Yoon Suk Yeol, is currently being held.
Seoul Detention Center Is Equipped for Female Inmates
Seoul Detention Center has dedicated facilities for both male and female inmates, including an isolated wing for women. High-profile female detainees, such as former professor Jung Kyung-shim—wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk—were also held here.
Security and Logistical Considerations
When detaining someone with the status of a First Lady, security becomes a major concern. That’s why key correctional facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area—where access can be tightly controlled and management is efficient—are usually preferred. Investigative convenience is another consideration, since proximity to prosecutors and courts makes it easier to process interrogations and hearings.
“Given the intense public interest, Seoul Detention Center—with its strict security and convenient access to prosecutors and courts—is the most likely choice. However, authorities may consider separating her from her husband, possibly assigning her to a different Seoul-based facility.”
This wouldn’t be without precedent. Former President Lee Myung-bak (MB) was detained at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center specifically to avoid overlap with Park Geun-hye, who was already in the Seoul Detention Center at the time. Likewise, former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were detained separately during their trials. So, a scenario in which Yoon stays in Seoul Detention Center and Kim is held in Seoul Eastern Detention Center is entirely possible.
A Quick Look at Detention Centers in Korea
While detention centers are distributed throughout the country, not every province or metropolitan city has one. Unlike prosecution offices or court branches, detention centers are mostly located near major cities or provincial capitals. They house suspects, pre-trial detainees, and those awaiting the outcome of their cases.
Key Differences Between Detention Centers and Prisons
A common point of confusion:
Detention centers (구치소) hold individuals before their sentence is finalized, such as those under investigation or awaiting trial.
Prisons (교도소) are for those who have already been sentenced and are serving their term.
Major Detention Centers in Korea (as of 2025)
Seoul Metropolitan Area
Seoul Detention Center (Uiwang, Gyeonggi)
Seoul Eastern Detention Center (Songpa, Seoul)
Seoul Southern Detention Center (Yeongdeungpo, Seoul)
Seoul Northern Detention Center (Nowon, Seoul)
Suwon Detention Center (Suwon, Gyeonggi)
Uijeongbu Detention Center (Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi)
Incheon Detention Center (Namdong, Incheon)
Chungcheong Region
Daejeon Detention Center
Cheongju Detention Center
Gangwon Region
Chuncheon Detention Center
Jeolla Region
Gwangju Detention Center
Jeonju Detention Center
Mokpo Detention Center
Gyeongsang Region
Daegu Detention Center
Busan Detention Center
Changwon Detention Center
Jinju Detention Center
Masan Detention Center
Gimcheon Detention Center
Among these, Seoul uniquely has four separate detention centers. Meanwhile, cities like Sejong, Ulsan, and Jeju do not have detention centers. In such cases, detainees are transferred to nearby facilities—for example, Sejong’s cases are handled at Cheongju Detention Center, and Ulsan’s at either Busan or Changwon Detention Centers.
A Historic First
If Kim Keon-hee is indeed detained, it would mark the first time in South Korean history that a sitting First Lady has been placed under arrest. It remains to be seen whether this case will set a meaningful precedent in terms of rule of law and equal accountability.
Let’s hope this moment becomes a case study not just in legal history, but in institutional maturity.
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