Yoon Sukyeol Says "My Wife Kim Keonhee Is Truly Very Ill"... Addresses Controversy Over "Intentional Hospitalization"

Yoon: "My wife has suffered from severe depression for a long time"
On the controversy over intentional hospitalization: "There's nothing we can do about it," he says with resignation

There is growing controversy over alleged "investigation evasion" regarding Kim Keonhee's hospitalization ahead of the special prosecutor's investigation. Former President Yoon Sukyeol is reported to have told close associates that this is a "misunderstanding."

Former President Yoon Sukyeol and First Lady Kim Keonhee are talking inside a car as they leave the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on April 11.

On June 19, Kukmin Ilbo reported that former President Yoon recently confided to close associates, "My wife's depression has been severe for a long time," and "She is truly very ill." Regarding the suspicion that Kim Keonhee was hospitalized to avoid the special prosecutor's investigation, which has been criticized as "faking illness," former President Yoon is said to have responded with resignation, saying, "There's nothing we can do about it." An associate of former President Yoon also reportedly commented, "While they were the presidential couple, it would have been difficult for Kim Keonhee to be hospitalized citing depression."

Kim Keonhee has been hospitalized and receiving treatment at Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, since June 16. She has been under investigation by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for alleged involvement in candidate nominations, and by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office for alleged bribery involving Geonjin Bopsa. As she is a subject of the "Kim Keonhee special prosecutor" investigation, some have raised suspicions that she was urgently hospitalized in anticipation of possible compulsory investigation. On this day, prosecutors sent Kim Keonhee a third summons, and it is reported that she was admitted to Asan Medical Center for reasons including depression just a few hours after receiving the summons.

In response, Kim Keonhee's side told YTN, "The hospital has recommended hospitalization for some time, and the decision to be admitted was made on June 13," emphasizing that "the prosecutor's summons and the hospitalization are unrelated." Kim Keonhee's side also stated that she intends to actively cooperate with the special prosecutor's summons. However, as former President Yoon did not appear for police questioning on June 19, the date of the third summons, some have questioned the credibility of Kim Keonhee's side. Additionally, there is interpretation that this approach amounts to a "delaying tactic" aimed at slowing the pace of the prosecution and police investigations.