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Park Chan-kyong

A video featuring South Korea’s first lady Kim Keon-hee appearing to be praising a male journalist for his supposed sexual prowess after reading his palm has gone viral.
The three-minute YouTube clip, uploaded by local media agency Voice of Seoul, was released to coincide with the premiere of its documentary on Kim, who has been accused of wielding significant influence over embattled President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Yoon is currently facing impeachment following a botched bid to impose martial law on December 3.
The footage, reportedly self-filmed in August 2021 by investigative journalist Lee Myung-soo from the Voice of Seoul, appears to support claims that Kim is deeply interested in fortune-telling, palmistry, geomancy, and other similar practices.

She is seen in the clip to be commending the male reporter for his sexual prowess as indicated by his palm lines.
Allegations of Kim’s superstitious nature gained traction in 2021 when Yoon appeared in a live televised debate with the Chinese character wang (王), meaning “king”, written on his palm, raising eyebrows about his wife’s influence and how these shaped his belief in his presidential campaign.
In the latest clip, Kim is heard saying to the journalist, “now tell me straight – why do you like women so much”, suggesting he had womanising tendencies as indicated in his palm lines.
The footage was believed to have been taken during a visit to her curatorial service company.
On Thursday, Lee explained on the Voice of Seoul channel that he had initially been “too embarrassed” to speak publicly but decided to release the clip to mark the documentary’s premiere.
“She abruptly grabs my hand and holds it. Can you imagine how embarrassed I was?” Lee recounted to colleagues on the channel. “She told her young female assistants, ‘Look, girls, I’m going to read this Oppa’s palm lines. Just see how accurately I can predict [his luck] with women.’”


Oppa is a Korean term traditionally used by women to address an elder brother but is also commonly used for close male acquaintances or romantic partners.
Lee stated that his decision to release the video was aimed at “alerting people to the Yoon regime’s irrationality and recklessness”.
“It cannot be said that lady Kim has no connection to the martial law fiasco,” he warned.
In the video, Kim continues: “I see a woman in your life with the name Yeon. Tell me, isn’t there someone with that name? You have a lot of women around you. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I think men should date women.”
The first lady then insists, using a vulgarity, that the woman surnamed Yeon has “some attachment” to Lee, while others had only slept with him and said “goodbye, again and again”.
Her young female assistants are heard giggling in the background. Kim then remarks that Lee is popular with women and, despite his “rough appearance like a soldier”, is sensitive and kind to ladies. “And your [sexual] power is strong,” she adds.

Kim has filed defamation lawsuits against Lee over exploiting their acquaintance to secretly record private conversations on multiple occasions in 2021.
In 2022, Voice of Seoul released transcripts from more than seven hours of such conversations, igniting legal battles.
Lee was also implicated in arranging a meeting between US-based Korean pastor Choi Jae-young and Kim, during which Choi presented her with a Dior handbag, filming the exchange with a spy camera.
Prosecutors dropped the case, asserting that her acceptance of the gift did not constitute a crime as it was unrelated to the president’s official duties, leading to public outrage.
On Thursday, South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly passed a fourth bill calling for an independent probe into scandals involving Kim.
The investigation would cover 15 alleged offences, including her acceptance of the handbag, involvement in a decade-old stock manipulation case, and accusations of election fraud.
Three previous bills for similar probes were vetoed by President Yoon.


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South Korea’s first lady filmed praising reporter for sexual ‘power’ after palm-reading

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee. Photo: EPA-EFE/Yonhap

First Lady Kim Keon-hee seen in a screengrab from Voice of Seoul’s video, reportedly filmed in August 2021. Photo: YouTube / VoiceOfSeoul 

Protesters hold up effigies depicting President Yoon and his wife Kim at a rally in Seoul. Photo: EPA-EFE

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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee arrive for a celebration to mark the 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea on October 1. Photo: Reuters

Who is South Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee? From Dior bag scandal to martial law fallout

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (left), alongside his wife, Kim Keon-hee, arrives at London Stansted Airport, in November 2023, for a four-day state visit to Britain. Photo: EPA-EFE

Yoon and Kim pose with puppies at the Samsung Guide Dog School in Yongin. Photo: South Korean Presidential Office/AFP

Kim photographed with a Cambodian boy. Photo: Presidential Office

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People carry K-pop idol sticks, as protesters take part in a rally on Sunday calling for the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo: Reuters

Iz*One performing during a music programme in Goyang, South Korea, in 2020. Photo: ImaZins via Getty Images

A fan posing in front of a poster of trot singer Lim Young-woong in Seoul. Lim was criticised for being indifferent to the ongoing political chaos in South Korea. Photo: AFP

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A protester wears a South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol mask during a rally calling for Yoon’s impeachment in Seoul. Photo: Reuters

Protesters attend a rally in Seoul calling for the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol over his failed martial law bid. Photo: Reuters

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Reporter behind the video featuring Kim Keon-hee says he released the clip to show the Yoon administration’s ‘irrationality and recklessness’


Reporter behind the video featuring Kim Keon-hee says he released the clip to show the Yoon administration’s ‘irrationality and recklessness’.


Yoon Suk-yeol