Kim Keon-hee (Hangul: 김건희; born 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. Since 2009, she has been the chief executive officer and president of the art exhibition company Covana Contents.
Kim Keon-hee | |
|---|---|
김건희 | |
 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-yong (temporarily) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kim Myeong-sin 2 September 1972 Yangpyeong County, South Korea |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Mother | Choi Eun-sun |
| Relatives | Yoon Ki-jung (father-in-law) |
| Residence | Presidential residence |
| Education | Kyonggi University (BA) |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Signature |  |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김건희 |
| Hanja | 金建希 |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Geonhui |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Kŏnhŭi |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul | 김명신 |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Myeongsin |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Myŏngsin |
Early life
changeKim was born on 2 September 1972 in Yangpyeong, South Korea. She attended Myungil Girls' High School. She graduated from Kyonggi University with an art degree.[1]
Career
changeIn 2009, Kim established Covana Contents, a company that specializes in art exhibitions.[2] She has been the chief executive officer and president since then.[2][1] In 2019, the media reported that she had allegedly not paid taxes.[3] Kim has been investigated for allegedly taking kickbacks for hosting art exhibitions.[4]
In 2021, there were reports that Kim had inflated her resume with connections to the New York University Stern School of Business.[5] She later publicly apologized.[6][7]
Personal life
changeKim married Yoon Suk-yeol in 2012.[8] On 10 March 2022, when her husband was elected president of South Korea, Kim said that she preferred the term first spouse to first lady.[1]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "[단독]김건희 "'영부인'보다 '대통령 배우자' 표현이 좋아"". www.donga.com (in Korean). 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "[여성조선] 전시장에서 만난 윤석열 검찰총장 후보 부인 김건희 대표... 60억대 자산가". June 28, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ↑ "[단독]윤석열 후보자 부인, 세금 체납으로 세차례 집 압류". www.donga.com (in Korean). 2019-06-22. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ↑ "Choo orders Yoon to be walled off from two probes". koreajoongangdaily. October 20, 2020.
- ↑ "[단독]뉴욕대 "김건희 5일 연수…학력·학점 불인정 기업체 위탁 유료과정"". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ↑ 박로명 (2021-12-26). "김건희 대국민 사과 후…11개 의혹 조목조목 해명". 헤럴드경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ↑ "김건희 "잘 보이려 경력 부풀려" 대국민 사과". 노컷뉴스. 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ↑ "윤석열 장모는 유독 '부동산'에 집착했다". 오마이뉴스 (in Korean). 2021-03-26. Retrieved 2022-03-10.