Accusations of Enormous Influence During Yoon Administration
NYT Highlights Joke: "VIP 1 is Kim Keonhee"
Major international media outlets have also given significant coverage to the news that Kim Gunhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, has been arrested, noting that this is the first time in South Korean constitutional history that a former presidential couple has been detained simultaneously.
Former President Yoon Sukyeol and First Lady Kim Gunhee are applauding at a dinner meeting with compatriots held at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Hotel in Madrid, Spain, on June 29, 2022 (local time). Mrs. Kim is seated wearing the controversial 'Van Cleef & Arpels' necklace. Photo by Yonhap News
The New York Times (NYT) reported in detail on Kim's arrest on August 12 (local time), publishing several photos under the headline "South Korea's Former First Lady Detained on Corruption Charges."
The NYT emphasized that Kim is the only former first lady in South Korea to have been arrested, and that while four former presidents have previously been detained, this is the first case of a couple being arrested at the same time. The article added, "Kim was considered to have wielded significant influence over her husband's administration," and introduced the popular joke among the public: "'VIP 1 is Kim Gunhee, and VIP 2 is President Yoon.'"
The British daily The Guardian also reported that Kim was suspected of wielding significant influence behind the scenes during Yoon's presidency. The Guardian stated, "She was believed to have exercised considerable power behind the scenes while her husband was president, which led to her being embroiled in various controversies throughout his term," and mentioned the Dior bag scandal. The Guardian further noted that in recent weeks, Kim's master's and doctoral degrees were revoked due to allegations of plagiarism.
U.S. broadcaster CNN also featured the news of Kim's arrest as a top story on the Asia section of its international website. CNN reported that Kim is expected to be detained at a southern detention center, separate from the facility where former President Yoon is being held.
Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported that several South Korean media outlets covered the news of the arrest. The Seoul Central District Court reviewed the request for an arrest warrant from the special prosecutor's team on August 12 and determined that the arrest was justified.
Major news agencies such as Reuters and AP also provided detailed reports on Kim's arrest. On the night of August 12, Judge Jeong Jaeuk, who is in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, issued an arrest warrant for Kim on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act, violating the Political Funds Act, and receiving bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. Judge Jeong stated that the warrant was issued due to concerns about the destruction of evidence.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
