South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared “emergency martial law” on Tuesday in a televised address sending shockwaves across the world. He also levelled several accusations at opposition parties and said the measure was necessary to protect the nation’s free and constitutional order.
Amid this political turmoil, attention has also turned to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who has faced many allegations and has had her own share of controversies in the past few years, from stock manipulation to accepting a luxury Dior handbag.
The many controversies and scandals surrounding the couple may have contributed in the decline in approval ratings, according to the BBC. The opposition has also been trying to launch a special investigation against her.
Who is Kim Keon-hee?
Born as Kim Myeong-sin on September 2, 1972 in Yangpyeong, she attended Myungil Girls’ High School. She did her graduation from Kyonggi University with an art degree. She changed her name to Kim Keon-hee in 2008.
Her father died when she was still in the middle school. Her mother Choi Eun-sun was tried and acquitted on charges of operating an elderly care hospital without a medical license from 2013 to 2015, and is currently serving a one-year sentence for real estate fraud after being convicted in 2023.
Since 2009, she is the chief executive officer and president of the art exhibition company, Covana Contents.
Here’s a look at the various controversies surrounding, Kim Keon-hee, the First Lady of South Korea and wife of President Yoon Suk Yeol, has faced several allegations in recent years:
Non payment of taxes (2019)
According to several reports in media in 2019, there were allegations against her for not paying taxes. Kim was also under investigation for taking kickbacks for hosting art exhibitions.
Factual inaccuracy in resume (2021)
In December 2021, Kim came under fire over gross inaccuracies in her resumes while she applied for teaching positions in between 2007-2013. She was accused of exaggerating or falsifying her credentials. She publicly apologized.
Resume Falsification (2021)
In December 2021, Kim was accused of exaggerating or falsifying her credentials on resumes submitted for teaching positions in 2007 and 2013.She issued a public apology for causing concern, regardless of whether the allegations were accurate.
Charges of plagiarism (2022)
Kim was accused of plagiarism in her academic writings. In August 2022, Kookmin University, where Kim obtained a PhD, said it found no misconduct. The statement ignited strong backlash within the academic community. A panel of 16 professors from various institutions reviewed the allegations and presented findings that corroborated claims of plagiarism in Kim Keon-hee’s master’s thesis at Sookmyung Women’s University and doctoral dissertation at Kookmin University.
Stock manipulation (2020–2024)
Kim found herself in middle of another controversy when she faced allegations of involvement in a 63.6 billion won (approximately $61 million) stock manipulation scheme related to Deutsche Motors. However, she was not indicted due to lack of sufficient evidence of her awareness or participation in the scheme, as per the Straits Times.
Acceptance of Christian Dior bag (2023–2024)
A video that was released early this year showed Kim receiving a Christian Dior handbag and other luxury items from a pastor, which raised concerns about potential violations of South Korea’s anti-graft laws, which limit the value of gifts public officials and their spouses can accept. President Yoon apologized for his wife’s ‘unwise behavior.’ In October 2024, prosecutors dropped the case, determining that the gifts were personal and unrelated to official duties.
Allegations of political influence (2024)
In September 2024, Kim and President Yoon were accused of exerting undue influence in candidate selection for a parliamentary by-election in 2022, reportedly at the behest of pollster Myung Tae-kyun. Leaked conversations indicated possible involvement in the nomination process. President Yoon denied the allegations, and the matter remains a subject of political debate.
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