South Korean First Lady Facing Financial Allegations and Rumors About Her Marriage

Not accompanying her husband on his overseas trip

“Multiple individuals connected to Mr. M’s polling company provided testimonies, stating the following: ‘I heard that Mr. M received 500,000 won from Mrs. Kim. The money was said to be in an envelope from the event planning company Kobana Contents, where Mrs. Kim was the representative.’ ‘Mrs. Kim reportedly told Mr. M over the phone, expressing her joy, saying, “Ah, K is a gift from Mr. M.”‘ (Same source)

This is not the first time that Mrs. Kim has been involved in a scandal. There have been allegations of academic falsification, receiving expensive bags from acquaintances, and involvement in stock manipulation. These successive scandals have increased public dissatisfaction, leading to large-scale demonstrations calling for President Yoon’s resignation.

“As suspicions surrounding the presidential couple deepen, their approval rating has plummeted. The latest figures show it has dropped to a record low of 17% since the start of the administration. Amidst the growing troubles, there are rumors that their marriage is becoming strained. In mid-November, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in South America, Mrs. Kim, who usually accompanies the president on overseas trips, was absent. It is said that she will also refrain from domestic activities for the remainder of the year,” said a reporter from another Korean newspaper.

During a press conference on November 7, President Yoon apologized, saying, “I apologize for causing concern to the public with my and my wife’s behavior.” However, he denied the allegations, stating, “We have not done anything inappropriate.” The opposition has sharply criticized him, saying, “The day when approval ratings drop to single digits is near.” The headwinds against the administration continue to grow stronger.