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First lady Kim Keon-hee of South Korea arrives at Dulles International Airport on July 11, 2024, (local time) to return to Korea after accompanying President Yoon Suk-yeol while he attended a NATO conference in Washington, DC. (Yonhap)

With Korea’s first lady dogged by scandals and allegations — from accepting a luxury handbag to her suspected role in placing pressure on a Marine investigation into the death of a corporal —opposition lawmakers are zeroing in on Kim Keon-hee, who they say is at the center of government influence-peddling and interference in state affairs. 

Opposition lawmakers are capitalizing on the hearing over a petition calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol set to take place next week, and look ready to keep up the pressure on the presidential couple over what they’re calling “Kim Keon-hee-gate” until they are able to pass a bill to appoint a special counsel to investigate alleged malfeasance by Kim, and conduct their own questioning during the annual parliamentary inspection of the government. 

“A specter of wide-scale corruption and influence peddling is haunting South Korea,” declared Park Chan-dae, the floor leader and acting leader of the Democratic Party, during a policy coordination meeting on Thursday. “Suspicions of Kim’s involvement in the general election, farming online comments, and meddling in party affairs are spreading like wildfire. The first lady should step forward and shed light on her alleged lobbying activities.”
 
The previous day, Park claimed that the recording of Lee Jong-ho, the former CEO of asset management firm Black Pearl Invest and a personal acquaintance of Kim, lobbying for the exoneration of former Marine Corps 1st Division commander Lim Seong-geun was solid proof of Kim’s interference in state affairs.
 
The same day, Kim Joon-hyung, the acting leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, also stated at a meeting of party leaders, “If the president and his wife are both uninvolved in the lobbying for the protection of Lim, they should submit their cell phones without batting any eyelashes.”

First lady Kim Keon-hee stands for a photo with US first lady Jill Biden while attending an event for the spouses of leaders attending the 75th anniversary NATO summit in Washington, DC, on July 10, 2024 (local time). (pool photo)

 
The allegations against Kim, which initially focused on her alleged involvement in the Deutsch Motors stock price manipulation case and violation of an anti-graft law by accepting a luxury handbag, have been snowballing in recent weeks. 
 
In particular, Kim’s name has unexpectedly come up in connection with allegations of involvement in pressure on a Marines investigation to protect Lim from punishment over his suspected role in the death of a subordinate, interference in party affairs that came into light through text messages exchanged with former interim PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, and the alleged operation of a team to farm online comments and sway public opinion, shocking many.
 
“With so many allegations against Kim, it’s a very nerve-wracking time, as the public is learning that Kim is at the heart of wide-scale corruption,” a leading Democratic Party official stated. The opposition is preparing to use the impeachment petition hearing for Yoon, which is to take place on July 19 and July 26, as their first battling ground.
 
In addition to military officers, police, and National Intelligence Service officials, among the witnesses expected to testify at the hearing on July 19 regarding suspicions of a coverup to protect those responsible for the death of a young Marine surnamed Chae is Lee Jong-ho, who has emerged as a key figure in the case. If Lee speaks publicly at the hearing, it could be a watershed moment for the investigation.
 
“Lee seems willing to appear at the hearing. We’re going to focus on how the hearing plays out,” a Democratic Party floor member stated.
 
Lee, an accomplice in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case and manager of Kim’s assets, has also been called to testify at a hearing on July 26 to weigh in on a wide range of allegations against Kim. At that hearing, Kim and her mother, Choi Eun-soon, are expected to participate as witnesses.
 
After the hearing, the passing of an act authorizing a special counsel probe into Kim, which has already been referred to the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is next on the agenda.
 
In particular, the Democratic Party is not taking lightly the recent allegations of online comment farming to manipulate public opinion. The case bears similarities to the 2018 “Druking” online opinion-rigging case, in which former the governor of South Gyeongsang Province, Kim Kyoung-soo, received prison time. Since it could turn into a big risk for the administration, it is opening up the possibility of a proactive investigation even if it is not currently subjected to an independent prosecutor probe. 
 
“Suspicions that Kim was engineering public opinion have been raised since the administration came into power, and we are now looking into the surrounding circumstances,” said a Democratic Party official. 

“If a special counsel is appointed, a proactive investigation can take place. We will also continue to raise the issue in the National Assembly’s audit of state affairs,” they added.

By Um Ji-won, staff reporter; Kang Jae-gu, staff reporter

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