94Ha Viewpoint
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced a nationwide state of emergency on December 3 due to declining approval ratings, multiple controversies involving his wife Kim Geon-hee, and opposition party pressure. Although the state of emergency was lifted six hours later, President Yoon faced impeachment on the 14th. The controversies surrounding Kim Geon-hee, including allegations of receiving luxury handbags, stock price manipulation, involvement in political affairs, and a scandal with members of parliament, have been central factors in the ongoing attacks on President Yoon’s administration by the opposition parties.
Since Yoon Suk-yeol’s election, controversies surrounding Kim Geon-hee have been constant. Issues such as her involvement in a German car stock manipulation case, false academic credentials, and exaggeration of her resume have raised widespread doubts. Despite her public apologies before the election, the criticisms against her have not subsided. After Yoon Suk-yeol took office, suspicions arose regarding her alleged involvement in the presidential residence project by signing contracts with closely related companies and mobilizing unqualified companies, sparking strong public discontent over government transparency.
Furthermore, rumors about Kim Geon-hee’s connections to shamans, although unconfirmed, have severely damaged the credibility of the presidential office.
In September 2022, Kim Geon-hee was caught on camera receiving a luxury handbag worth approximately 3,000 new won in her office. This video sparked public outrage, and President Yoon defended her by saying, “It’s difficult for a president or the first lady to be cold-hearted towards anyone.”
This statement was criticized as lacking persuasiveness. The decision by the prosecution to find “no suspicion” faced strong criticism from the public and the opposition, who believed that law enforcement agencies showed weakness when dealing with matters involving the president’s family.
Despite the ongoing negative publicity surrounding Kim Geon-hee, she continues to make public appearances. In September of this year, when she visited Seoul Mapo Bridge to promote suicide prevention, the police implemented traffic control for her, triggering public dissatisfaction. Some critics pointed out that she was “like a presidential inspection.”
The leader of the ruling People Power Party, Han Dong-hwan, even publicly demanded that Kim Geon-hee “immediately stop her external activities,” but President Yoon ignored this request. This public disagreement marks a complete split between the two, from their past as “golden partners in the judicial field” and political allies, to their current division, bringing their contradictions to the surface.
Recently, suspicions about Kim Geon-hee’s involvement in the public endorsement of Myeong Tae-jun (54 years old) have emerged and have officially been included in the scope of a special prosecution investigation. This development has further increased the political pressure facing President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The documentary film “The First Lady,” released on December 12, directly addresses the multiple controversies and sensitive topics surrounding Kim Geon-hee. Within just three days of its release, the film has attracted over 12,000 viewers, reflecting the high public interest in Kim Geon-hee and related political issues.
A university professor who watched the film told me, “The first lady should be a national symbol, but Kim Geon-hee completely fails to meet this standard.”
Many people lament that President Yoon Suk-yeol, in his two and a half years in office, has focused more on Kim Geon-hee than on the citizens.
If President Yoon had taken more decisive measures in handling controversies surrounding his wife, such as initiating investigations, promptly clarifying facts, or demonstrating higher transparency and accountability, he might have been able to alleviate public pressure effectively. Such actions could have reduced criticisms of the government’s evasion of issues from external sources and demonstrated the leader’s responsibility and integrity, thereby gaining more trust and support from the people.
At a press conference following the parliamentary impeachment vote, President Yoon Suk-yeol showed a firm attitude, reminiscent of a prior evaluation by a physiognomy expert: Kim Geon-hee belongs to the “peacock type,” symbolizing elegance and good luck. This seems to imply that President Yoon’s election or success may have benefited from Kim Geon-hee’s fortune.
President Yoon, on the other hand, is of the “crocodile type,” characterized by stubbornness, resilience, and a talent for fighting. People of the “crocodile type” do not easily compromise and show strong determination in times of crisis. The “creaking sound” made by a crocodile in motion symbolizes its strong presence and influence in a situation.
President Yoon’s tough stance in the face of impeachment seems to confirm this analysis. In both public opinion and political struggles, he continues to exhibit his unwavering attitude.
The controversies surrounding Kim Geon-hee have been accumulating since before Yoon Suk-yeol took office and have now become the catalyst for political turmoil in South Korea. Regardless of the outcome of the impeachment case, President Yoon Suk-yeol’s tenure is destined to be a controversial chapter in South Korean political history.
