South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol is facing a new set of troubles, with his wife, Kim Keon-hee, accused of plagiarism in her master’s thesis, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. Sookmyung Women’s University began an investigation in 2022 into Ms. Kim’s dissertation, submitted to its graduate school of education in 1999. After two years of probe, the institution confirmed the allegations of falsified work.
The private university in Seoul submitted its report last December and gave Ms. Kim this month to appeal the result. If she appeals, the university is bound to consider her appeal before making a final decision.
This isn’t the first time Ms. Kim has faced scrutiny over her academic qualifications. In 2022, Kookmin University cleared her of wrongdoing following a lengthy investigation into her doctoral dissertation. Beyond academic controversies, she also stands accused of stock market manipulation and interfering in election nominations.
Kim Keon-hee’s Background
Born in 1972, Ms. Kim graduated in painting at Kyonggi University and received a master’s degree in art education and a doctorate in digital content design. Questions about her academic background did not deter her from serious success in her field. She taught at schools and universities and went on to become the founder of Covana Contents, a company specializing in cultural content, in 2007.
She married Mr. Yoon in March 2012. Speaking with reporters in 2018 about their marriage, Ms. Kim said she had known Mr. Yoon “for a long time” but had not seriously considered marrying him until a mutual acquaintance told her the two would make a good couple. She was 40 years old, and he was 52.
Ms. Kim’s scandal arrives at a sensitive moment for Mr. Yoon, who has been fighting for political survival after his failed martial law bid threw the nation into chaos. He has since barricaded himself within the presidential residence, guarded by loyal security officers.
Earlier this week, anti-corruption investigators got a new court-ordered arrest warrant against Mr. Yoon. Mr. Yoon has refused to resign amid fraud allegations; the investigation of the scandal is being led by the CIO. It did not announce the duration of the warrant after an initial seven-day, which elapsed recently.
Allegations against Ms. Kim are found yet another layer of controversy, with challenges both legal and political, while Mr. Yoon keeps on battling for his tenuous position.
