"Mrs. Kim Keon-hee Left at the Residence, Looking Gaunt... Enduring with Medication"

President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Gong-su-cheo) and transported to Seoul Detention Center, while the current status of First Lady Kim Geon-hee, who remained at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, has been revealed.

On the 15th, a presidential office official said they saw President Yoon and his wife before the execution of the arrest warrant by Gong-su-cheo, stating, "(Kim Geon-hee) has become completely emaciated. Among the aides, there was even talk that she might need to be hospitalized." The official added, "Kim Geon-hee appeared so gaunt that her health was a concern," and "her hair has turned significantly white." Another presidential office official explained, "Worried about President Yoon, he visited Kim Geon-hee twice before appearing at Gong-su-cheo," adding, "Once to check on her health, and another time to say a final goodbye."

Mrs. Kim Keon-hee. Yonhap News

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Lawmakers from the People Power Party who were at the residence also conveyed the situation, saying, "President Yoon seemed to have only seen Kim Geon-hee both times," and "Before President Yoon’s arrest, Kim Geon-hee asked about legal procedures, wondering how to respond as Gong-su-cheo was illegally forcing their way in." Some figures from the ruling party recalled, "I encountered Kim Geon-hee at the residence," and "I was worried she needed to go to the hospital, but she said she was fine." Additionally, there were remarks such as "Kim Geon-hee is barely eating and is holding on with medication," and "If Kim Geon-hee goes to the hospital, the opposition party will spread various unfounded rumors, making it difficult for her to leave the residence." Last month, Jang Kyung-tae, a member of the Democratic Party, raised suspicions that "Kim Geon-hee visited a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam on the day of the martial law."

Meanwhile, since last July, Kim Geon-hee has hardly appeared publicly after being investigated by prosecutors over allegations related to stock manipulation of Deutsche Motors and luxury handbags. The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, considering the possibility of Kim Geon-hee’s involvement in President Yoon’s December 3 martial law incident, plan to accelerate the reintroduction of the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act.' The investigation targets outlined in the special prosecutor law reportedly include a total of 15 cases, such as allegations of interference in the June 2022 local elections and by-elections, interference in the April 10 general election last year, allegations of election fraud during the 2022 presidential election and primary process through Myung Tae-gyun, and allegations of receiving luxury handbags and stock manipulation of Deutsche Motors.

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