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First Lady Kim Keon-hee Appears as Witness in Husband's Trial

From Hankyoreh · (21h ago) Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • First Lady Kim Keon-hee appeared as a witness in a trial involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
  • This marks the first time the couple has faced each other in court since Yoon's re-arrest in July last year.
  • Kim largely refused to testify, invoking her right to remain silent on most questions.

The appearance of First Lady Kim Keon-hee as a witness in the trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol has drawn significant attention. This court date marks a rare instance of the couple being in the same courtroom since Yoon's re-arrest last year, a situation that has captivated the public.

During the proceedings, Kim Keon-hee, dressed in a black suit, entered the courtroom with the assistance of court officials. Former President Yoon Suk-yeol was observed watching her intently, even offering a smile and a nod when she was seated. However, Kim herself maintained a more reserved demeanor, primarily looking at the courtroom screen or the floor during her testimony.

Yes, that's correct.

— Kim Keon-heeResponding to the prosecutor's question about whether she is the wife of the defendant Yoon Suk-yeol.

The court's decision to allow Kim to testify, despite her invoking her right to refuse to answer most questions, highlights the prosecution's need to clarify facts related to the case. Kim, who was previously acquitted in the first trial for the same charges, is awaiting her second trial verdict. Her refusal to answer key questions, including those about Yoon's presidential campaign declaration, underscores the sensitive nature of the ongoing legal proceedings.

I will refuse to testify.

— Kim Keon-heeWhen asked about Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential election announcement and preliminary candidacy registration.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.