Kim Keon Hee

Kim Keon Hee (Korean: 김건희; born Kim Myeong-sin; 2 September 1972) is a South Korean businesswoman who served as the first lady of South Korea from 2022 to 2025 as the wife of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Since 2009, she has been the chief executive officer and president of the art exhibition company Covana Contents. Born in Yangpyeong County, Kim graduated from Kyonggi University in 1996. In 2012, she married Yoon Suk Yeol, the then-prosecutor in Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Since the 2022 presidential election, Kim has been the subject of several allegations of misconduct, including the falsification of academic and financial reports. In August 2025, she was imprisoned on graft charges.

Infobox

President

Yoon Suk Yeol

Preceded by

Kim Jung-sook

Succeeded by

Choi Ah-young (acting)Kim Hea Kyung

Born

Kim Myeong-sin (1972-09-02) 2 September 1972 (age 53)Yangpyeong County, South Korea

Spouse

mw- Yoon Suk Yeol (m. 2012)

Parent

mw- Choi Eun-sun [ko] (mother)

Relatives

Yoon Ki Joong (father-in-law)

Education

Kyonggi University (BA)

Occupation

Businesswoman

Hangul

김명신

Hanja

金建希

Gim Myeongsin

Kim Myŏngsin

Tables

· External links

Preceded byKim Jung-sook

Honorary titles

Preceded byKim Jung-sook

Honorary titles

First Lady of South Korea 2022–2025

Honorary titles

Succeeded byChoi Ah-young (acting)Kim Hea Kyung

Honorary titles
Preceded byKim Jung-sook	First Lady of South Korea 2022–2025	Succeeded byChoi Ah-young (acting)Kim Hea Kyung

References

Kukmin Ilbo
https://www.kmib.co.kr/article/view.asp?arcid=0016852202
"South Korea's former first lady imprisoned after court issues warrant"
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-former-first-lady-imprisoned-after-court-issues-warrant-2025-08-12/
Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/17/who-is-kim-keon-hee-described-as-south-koreas-lady-macbeth
The Korea Times
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/04/113_368536.html
The Dong-A Ilbo
https://www.donga.com/news/Politics/article/all/20220310/112266703/1
The Chosun Ilbo
http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/06/28/2019062800954.html
The Dong-A Ilbo
https://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20190622/96110123/1
Korea JoongAng Daily
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/10/20/national/socialAffairs/Choo-Miae-Yoon-Seokyoul-Kim-Kunhui/20201020171400380.html
South China Morning Post
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3290385/who-south-korean-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-dior-bag-scandal-martial-law-fallout
The Hankyoreh
https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1079657.html
Straits Times
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-s-first-lady-cleared-of-stock-manipulation-allegations
Hankyoreh
https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1188239.html
New Herald Economy
https://n.news.naver.com/article/016/0001928833
Herald Corporation
http://biz.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20211226000224
No Cut News
https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/5679273
YTN
https://www.ytn.co.kr/replay/view.php?idx=21&key=202112261515177793
JoongAng Ilbo
https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25059845
The Korea Times
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/08/356_335747.html
Kyunghyang Shinmun
https://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?code=710100&artid=202209071818377&medid=enkh
South China Morning Post
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293950/south-korean-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-plagiarised-masters-thesis-university-concludes
The Korea Herald
https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220817000669
Yonhap News Agency
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230103005800315
The Korea Times
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2025/01/113_389923.html
KBS News
https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/view/view.do?ncd=8175808
한겨레
https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/1204381.html
Yonhap
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250721008200315
Yonhap
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250904006700315
The Korea Times
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20250320/kim-keon-hee-furious-after-yoons-arrest-scolds-security-for-not-using-guns
"First lady purportedly berated Presidential Security Service for failing to stop Yoon's detention"
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250319009200315
South China Morning Post
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3298950/south-koreas-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-back-under-fire-over-martial-law-debacle
AP News
https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-yoon-suk-yeol-kim-keon-hee-arrest-90ce614e2c1c1b2740645f5edb89e9ae
BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz71rp7yn05o
"Solitary cell with mattress on the floor for South Korea's once powerful ex-first lady"
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/solitary-cell-with-mattress-floor-south-koreas-once-powerful-ex-first-lady-2025-08-13/
"Yoon's mother-in-law detained as appeals court upholds 1-year term for forging bank balance certificate"
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230721007500320
"Yoon's jailed mother-in-law expected to undergo parole review next week"
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240418001500315?section=national/national
"Justice minister approves parole for Yoon's jailed mother-in-law"
https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240509006400315?section=search
The Korea Herald
https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241112050474
The Korea Herald
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10401500
The Korea Times
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2025/01/113_390612.html
The Korea Times
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20250627/koreas-ex-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-to-be-discharged-from-hospital
Korea JoongAng Daily
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/07/14/national/diplomacy/Korea-Poland-Yoon-Suk-Yeol/20230714194329075.html