Kim Keon-hee
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 | |
| File:Kim Keon-hee 2023.jpg 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) Kim Hye-kyung |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kim Myeong-sin 2 September 1972 (aged 53) 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 | Kim Keon-hee's 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
Kim 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
In 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
Kim 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]
Kim Keon-hee Media
- Kim Keon Hee and Imelda Marcos.png
Kim with former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos in 2024
- First Lady Jill Biden talks with First Lady of the Republic of Korea Mrs. Kim Keon Hee 20230426 200418.jpg
Kim with Jill Biden in 2023, then the first lady of the United States
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 [여성조선 전시장에서 만난 윤석열 검찰총장 후보 부인 김건희 대표... 60억대 자산가]. June 28, 2019. http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/06/28/2019062800954.html. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Choo orders Yoon to be walled off from two probes. October 20, 2020. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/10/20/national/socialAffairs/Choo-Miae-Yoon-Seokyoul-Kim-Kunhui/20201020171400380.html.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).