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Manila Bulletin devider World devider First lady's health deteriorates after Yoon's detention

First lady's health deteriorates after Yoon's detention

Published Jan 19, 2025 07:53 am

South Korea's First Lady.jpg

First lady Kim Keon Hee, left, rides a vehicle with President Yoon Suk Yeol during their state visit to the Netherlands at the invitation of Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Dec. 12, 2023. (Yonhap)

 

First Lady Kim Keon Hee is reportedly in poor health and has been left alone at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul. This comes after her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol, was detained by investigators, Wednesday, in connection with his imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, according to ruling party officials, Friday.

“I saw the first lady. Her face looked terrible. I felt sorry for her,” ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Kwon Young-jin, who visited Yoon’s residence before his detention, told reporters later.

Kwon is one of about 30 ruling party lawmakers who gathered in front of the presidential residence to block the execution of a warrant to detain him for questioning on charges of insurrection. He met with Yoon before he was taken into custody after an hours-long standoff.

An official at the presidential office told JoongAng Ilbo that “Kim Keon Hee grew so thin that it worries us. She was completely skinny."

According to the newspaper, some of the aides have even suggested, "I think the first lady should go to the hospital."

The detention warrant for the president was executed on Wednesday, leaving Kim alone at the official residence. She will remain there until the completion of Yoon's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court.

Many ruling party figures who reportedly encountered Kim at the official residence after the martial law debacle expressed concern for her health. They explained that she could barely eat and had been managing her condition by taking various medications.

Kim has rarely been seen in public since she was investigated by prosecutors in July of last year on allegations of accepting a luxury bag and being involved in a stock manipulation scheme.

Ahead of the execution of Yoon's detention, some YouTubers uploaded a video showing a person believed to be Kim walking a dog inside the official residence compound.

“Most of the dogs that the president and his wife keep had been abandoned before and are not toilet-trained indoors,” presidential office personnel said, adding that it was not Kim but one of the office staffers who went outside with the dog for a walk.

Meanwhile, the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party urged the Ministry of Justice to ban Kim from leaving the country.

"Kim could turn out to be the real mastermind or a co-conspirator in the rebellion, depending on the investigation's results," said Rep. Cha Gyu-geun. "The Ministry of Justice should immediately bar Kim Keon Hee from leaving the country and authorities must initiate a thorough investigation."

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