Prosecution Decides Not to Indict Kim Keonhee Over 'Falsified Career History in Faculty Appointment' Allegations

Kim Gunhee Case Returned to Prosecution After Special Counsel Review
"Statute of Limitations Expired"
Prosecution: "Obstruction of Work Charge Time-Barred... Habitual Fraud Not Supported by Evidence"

Yoon Seokyeol, former president, wife Kim Geonhee, is coming out after the pre-arrest hearing (warrant review) held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 12th. 2025.08.12 Photo by Joint Press Corps

The prosecution has decided not to indict Kim Geonhee, wife of former President Yoon Seokyeol, regarding allegations that she falsified her career history during the process of being appointed as a university faculty member.

The Criminal Division 7 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kwon Sunghui) announced on the 19th that it has decided not to indict Kim on charges including obstruction of work, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations.

According to the prosecution, the case had already been dismissed by the police as having no grounds for charges, but was transferred to the prosecution for supplementary investigation following an objection filed by the complainant. On June 30, the case was transferred to the Kim Geonhee Special Prosecutor's Team, but on July 31, it was sent back to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

The prosecution determined that the statute of limitations had already expired before the complaint was filed regarding the allegation that submitting a resume with false credentials interfered with the university's faculty appointment review process. Regarding the habitual fraud charge-claiming that Kim was hired as a university faculty member and received lecture fees based on a resume containing false credentials-the prosecution focused on the university's hiring requirements and review procedures. As a result, it concluded that the questioned career and resume entries were either not considered false, did not meet the conditions for faculty appointment, or it could not be established that she was hired as a result of those entries.

Previously, civic groups such as the Institute for People’s Livelihood and Economy and the Headquarters for National Reform Movement filed a police complaint against Kim in December 2021, alleging that she appeared to have listed false credentials while applying for adjunct faculty positions at several universities, including Suwon Women's University, Kookmin University, and Anyang University, and accusing her of fraud and obstruction of work.