South Korean ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee’s big fall, faces bribery charges, degrees revoked for plagiarism

It’s a double whammy for South Korea’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, who has been summoned for questioning by a team of special prosecutors on bribery charges against her. Besides this, her doctoral degree has also been revoked following the cancellation of her master's degree over revelations of plagiarism in her thesis.

As the two cases script Kim Keon Hee’s downfall, they also mark a crucial step towards an expanding investigation into a flurry of scandals tied to her and her husband, ousted former president Yoon Suk-yeol. According to the South China Morning Post, both Kim and Yoon were called in for separate questioning as “suspects” under a parliament-mandated investigation, special prosecutors said on Monday (July 21, 2025).

Assistant Special Prosecutor Moon Hong-joo said Yoon will appear next Tuesday (July 29, 2025), while Kim will face the heat on August 6. Amid the mess surrounding Kim, her legal team has said she has the intention to cooperate, though they also indicate she may seek a postponement.

Keon Hee cheated for educational degrees

In the thesis plagiarism case, the former first lady of South Korea lost her doctoral degree, as it was revoked following the cancellation of her master's degree, Kookmin University said on Monday (July 21, 2025).

Sookmyung Women's University announced in June 2025 that it had cancelled Kim's master's degree after concluding she had plagiarized her thesis, according to The Korea Times. The decision mounted further trouble for Kim as it prompted Kookmin University to begin procedures to invalidate her doctoral degree.

Kookmin University stated that she no longer met the admission requirements of the university following the cancellation of her master's degree, resulting in the revocation of her doctorate.

Kim earned a doctoral degree from Kookmin University in 2008 and a master's degree from Sookmyung Women's University based on a thesis submitted in 1999. (Yonhap)

Bribery claims against Kim Keon Hee

Kim faced scrutiny for allegedly accepting luxury gifts during her husband Yoon’s presidency. According to the South China Morning Post, the gifts included a Dior handbag, a Chanel makeup set, and a bottle of liquor from a Christian pastor in 2022.

Following the questioning in 2024 at a secretive government facility, prosecutors declined to press charges and argued that the gifts did not violate anti-corruption laws. Based on the development, calls for an independent investigation had intensified.

Since Yoon’s impeachment and official removal from office by the Constitutional Court in April, his political rival, Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Lee Jae-myung, has been elected president.

With a majority in the National Assembly, the DPK formed three separate special prosecutor teams to investigate the former presidential couple. The investigations cover Yoon’s controversial martial law imposition, the 2023 death of a marine during a flood rescue mission, and corruption allegations against Kim, the South China Morning Post reported.

The former first lady is currently facing 16 charges, with prosecutors initially focusing on four key cases. The cases relate to two stock manipulation schemes, a bribery case involving luxury goods, and alleged meddling in election nominations.