South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon-hee has reportedly been hospitalised in Seoul with severe depression as pressure mounts from a sweeping special counsel inquiry into scandals linked to her alleged misconduct – including stock manipulation, bribery and election interference – during her husband’s presidency.
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Kim, wife of impeached former president Yoon Suk-yeol, was admitted to hospital on Monday and is receiving psychiatric treatment, according to sources in the legal and medical communities cited by the Korea JoongAng Daily.
The sources said she had initially sought outpatient care for depressive symptoms last week, but doctors advised immediate hospitalisation given the severity of her condition. Kim declined at first but was later admitted, experiencing episodes of hyperventilation that required additional treatment by pulmonologists.
Yoon visited Kim on Monday evening after concluding his court appearance earlier that day, staying with her until late.
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South Korean leader apologises over wife’s Dior handbag saga, vows to improve livelihoods
South Korean leader apologises over wife’s Dior handbag saga, vows to improve livelihoods
Kim’s time as first lady was marred by a string of scandals that contributed to Yoon’s plunging public support.
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She was filmed in 2022 receiving a Dior handbag worth around 3 million won (US$2,200) from Korean-American pastor Choi Jae-young, triggering a bribery investigation that was later dropped due to lack of evidence linking the gift to official duties.