Picture of the Day: Verdict Against Lee Jae-Myung’s Wife Upheld
Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, exits the High Court in Suwon, south of Seoul, on May 12, 2025, after the court upheld a lower court’s ruling of a 1.5 million-won (US$1,067) fine for illegal use of a Gyeonggi provincial government credit card in August 2021, during Lee’s term as Gyeonggi governor, to support her husband’s intraparty campaign to become the DP presidential runner. (Yonhap)
Kim Hye-kyung, wife of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, was fined 1.5 million won (approximately $1,070) for violating South Korea’s Public Official Election Act. The court determined that she used a Gyeonggi provincial government corporate card to pay for a dinner in August 2021, which served as a networking event with spouses of influential Democratic Party politicians, thereby benefiting her husband’s political campaign.
While the court’s decision focused on this specific incident, the case has broader implications. Prosecutors have investigated additional allegations that Kim misused government resources for personal purposes, including reports of approximately 150 instances of suspected credit card misuse totaling around 20 million won. These investigations suggest a pattern of behavior beyond a single event.
Lee Jae-myung has characterized the legal actions against his wife as politically motivated attacks targeting his family. He expressed deep remorse over the situation, stating that his wife and children became subjects of political attacks following his presidential campaign.
In summary, while the court found Kim Hye-kyung guilty of misusing government funds for a political event, the context includes ongoing investigations into additional alleged misuses and claims of political targeting by her husband. The situation reflects the complex interplay between legal accountability and political dynamics in South Korea.