Kim Geon-hee Hospitalization Sparks Political Controversy… "Special Treatment" vs. "Fake News"
Kim Geon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, was hospitalized at Seoul Asan Hospital on the 16th for treatment of her chronic illness, leading to ongoing political disputes surrounding her condition.
Currently, Kim is a target of the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation', facing investigations by both the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office regarding allegations of intervention in party nominations and receiving bribes related to Geonjinbeomsa.
"Special Treatment Hospitalization to Avoid Special Investigation"… Government's Intense Attack
On the 18th, Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and strongly criticized: "Claiming to be hospitalized for depression due to a prosecutor's summons notification, while ordinary citizens struggle to obtain a single hospital bed."
The Justice Party also issued a statement the day before (18th), directly stating: "It’s not Kim Geon-hee who should be hospitalized, but the citizens who are getting stressed out," asserting that "she is carrying out special treatment hospitalization in front of people who cannot even secure a hospital bed due to a medical crisis." The party further criticized, "Kim is attempting to avoid her testimony in the Special Investigation by coercing citizens and the Special Investigation."
Former lawmaker Kim Yong-nam, who joined the Democratic Party, also appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kwon Soon-pyo's News High Kick' on the 17th, stating, "If she truly has severe depression, she should rather be moved to the most secure facility, a detention center," and emphasized, "Many citizens have suffered mental distress after the emergency martial law, but only Kim has been hospitalized."
"Hospitalization for Treatment Purposes… Should Refrain from False Claims"
In contrast, Seo Jeong-wook, a lawyer known to be a close confidant of the former president and his wife, appeared on YTN Radio the same day, refuting claims that Kim’s hospitalization was to evade the special investigation, stating: “Kim has been receiving treatment for depression regularly.” He labeled the assertions as "absurd and malicious fake news."
Seo continued, "The special investigation will proceed for six months, and there will likely be a schedule to summon Kim around the midpoint," adding, "Her current hospitalization is temporary treatment, and she is expected to be discharged within about a week."
Meanwhile, Kim Geon-hee is currently receiving treatment at the VIP ward of Seoul Asan Hospital in Songpa District, and the timing or possibility of her being summoned for the special investigation has not yet been officially determined.
Image source: News1. Kim Geon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, is seen waiting in line to vote at the third polling place established at Wonmyeong Elementary School in Seocho-gu on June 3rd. (Joint coverage) 2025.6.3/News1
