Voice recordings spell more trouble for South Korea’s first lady

South Korea’s controversial first lady, Kim Keon-hee, is facing mounting legal risks after the release of voice recordings that appear to support allegations she had interfered in state affairs and elections.

The first of two tapes made public this week centres on her alleged involvement in the nomination of a candidate for the ruling People Power Party’s (PPP) parliamentary by-election in 2022.

The second tape relates to her vow to ensure that the country’s largest newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, shuts down, apparently in retaliation for its criticism of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s failed martial law decree on December 3.

The explosive revelations come at a time when Yoon is himself facing trial on insurrection charges and awaiting an impeachment verdict from the Constitutional Court.

“I fear that more skeletons in the closet will be exposed about her once Yoon is impeached in the coming weeks,” political science Professor Lee Jun-han of Incheon National University told This Week in Asia.

If Yoon is convicted in the criminal trial, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Should the court uphold his impeachment for attempting a self-coup, a new presidential election would be held within 60 days.