Kim Keonhee's Side Warns, "We Know Who Leaked the Gyeongbokgung Photo" Amid Controversy

Legal Representative for Former President Yoon and His Wife Issues Warning

Regarding the release of a photo showing Kim Keonhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, standing with Lee Baeyong, former National Education Committee Chairman who is suspected of offering money in exchange for a public office appointment, at a location presumed to be Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace in 2023, Kim's side issued a warning to "keep it in moderation."

Yoo Jeonghwa, the legal representative for the former president and his wife, stated on Facebook on the 25th, "I have heard from multiple sources that Mr. A, who was in charge of photography for a certain team in President Yoon Sukyeol's office, is currently providing photos related to Mrs. Kim-taken during work and stored by others at locations such as Gyeongbokgung Palace-to the Democratic Party of Korea and progressive media outlets with malicious intent."

A photo showing Mrs. Kim Geon-hee (center) standing with former National Education Committee Chairman Lee Baeyong at a location presumed to be the second floor of Gyeongbokgung Palace's Gyeonghoeru Pavilion has been released. YouTube 'Joo Jinwoo Live'

She continued, "We have even secured a direct witness," and claimed, "We have confirmed the identity of Mr. A, who distributed the photos, and also confirmed that Mr. A's brother has a close relationship with Mr. B, a ruling party politician." Attorney Yoo also warned, "Maliciously distributing photos obtained through work makes it difficult to avoid legal responsibility. Consider carefully what legal consequences this could have on your personal life." As of the morning of the 26th, this post had been deleted from Attorney Yoo's Facebook page.

Previously, on the 20th, Joo Jinwoo, editor at Sisain, released a photo on a YouTube broadcast showing Mrs. Kim and former Chairman Lee touring a location presumed to be Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung Palace. This area is usually off-limits to the general public. Former Chairman Lee is suspected of giving a gold turtle worth approximately 15 to 20 grams to former President Yoon and Mrs. Kim in exchange for being appointed as the first National Education Committee Chairman.

According to materials submitted by the Cultural Heritage Administration to Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Ohkyung on the 22nd, Mrs. Kim visited Gyeongbokgung Palace on September 12, 2023, a day when the palace was closed, and sat on the Geunjeongjeon Throne, the king's seat. At that time, Mrs. Kim visited Gyeongbokgung Palace for a preliminary inspection ahead of the Gwanghwamun Woldae restoration event and a state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, it was reported that she entered the interior of Geunjeongjeon and sat on the throne, which was not part of the original plan. She was accompanied by former Chairman Lee, Choi Eungcheon, former head of the Cultural Heritage Administration (now the Cultural Heritage Agency), and Jeong Yongseok, president of the National Museum Cultural Foundation (who was then a senior administrator at the Presidential Office).