Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee appeared before the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday as her high-profile trial opened on charges of stock manipulation and corruption.
Escorted by guards, Kim arrived dressed in a dark suit, her hair neatly tied back, and wearing a badge with her inmate number: 4398. The court began proceedings by confirming her identity and occupation, to which she replied briefly, “I am unemployed.” She also provided her date of birth but declined the option of a jury trial.
The trial places South Korea in an unprecedented situation, with both a former president and a former first lady simultaneously facing criminal proceedings.
Kim has been under scrutiny for years over her alleged role in stock manipulation schemes. Public criticism intensified in 2022 after a left-wing pastor released a video showing her accepting a Dior handbag, sparking accusations of impropriety.
She also faces allegations of interfering in the parliamentary candidate nomination process within her husband’s political party — a violation of South Korea’s election laws.
Legal experts say the proceedings could ultimately summon both Kim and her husband, former President Yoon, together over claims that they sought to influence parliamentary elections.
As president, Yoon had vetoed three special investigation bills passed by the opposition-controlled parliament, all seeking to probe the allegations against his wife. His final veto came in late November, just a week before he declared martial law — a move that further fueled controversy.
The case is expected to test South Korea’s judicial independence while intensifying the country’s already polarized political climate.
