Kim Keon Hee
Kim Keon Hee | |
|---|---|
Kim in 2023 | |
| First Lady of South Korea | |
| In role 10 May 2022 – 4 April 2025 | |
| President | Yoon Suk Yeol |
| Preceded by | Kim Jung-sook |
| Succeeded by | Choi Ah-young (acting) Kim Hea Kyung |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kim Myung-shin 2 September 1972 Yangpyeong County, South Korea |
| Spouse | |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Yoon Ki Joong (father-in-law) |
| Education | Kyonggi University (BA) |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Signature | |
| Criminal information | |
| Convictions | Bribery |
| Criminal penalty | 20 months imprisonment |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김건희 |
| Hanja | 金建希 |
| RR | Gim Geonhui |
| MR | Kim Kŏnhŭi |
| Former name | |
| Hangul | 김명신 |
| RR | Gim Myeongsin |
| MR | Kim Myŏngsin |
Kim Keon Hee (Korean: 김건희; born Kim Myung-shin; 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 Yoon Suk Yeol, the 13th president of South Korea. From 2009 to 2022, she was the founder, president and chief executive officer of Covana Contents, an art exhibition company that closed down shortly after her husband took office.
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 bribery, as well as falsification of academic and financial reports.
On 28 January 2026, Kim was sentenced to 20 months in prison for bribery, but was acquitted on two other accusations of stock manipulation and political funding law violation with the judge citing a lack of evidence regarding her involvement.