Kim Keon Hee’s $42,000 NATO summit necklace turns up in an unlikely place
Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, wears a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace during a dinner meeting with Korean residents at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Hotel in Madrid, Spain, on June 30, 2022. Yonhap
Probe to focus on authenticity and how necklace ended up at relative’s home
A high-profile necklace once worn by former first lady Kim Keon Hee during the NATO summit in 2022 has been discovered at a relative’s home, prompting South Korea’s special counsel to expand its investigation into suspicions surrounding her.
The special counsel team secured several pieces of high-end jewelry, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, during a July 25 raid on the residence of a relative of Kim in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.
The raid was originally aimed at securing documents related to alleged misconduct in a land development project in Yangpyeong. Upon discovering the jewelry, the team obtained a new warrant to formally seize it as evidence.
Investigators believe the necklace matches the one Kim wore during President Yoon Suk Yeol’s trip to the NATO summit in June 2022.
At the time, Kim sparked controversy after she was photographed wearing a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace allegedly worth 60 million won ($42,000), a Tiffany & Co. brooch worth 20 million won, and a Cartier bracelet valued at 10 million won. None of the items were listed in President Yoon’s official asset disclosures.
The presidential office later said Kim had borrowed two of the items from acquaintances and purchased one from a small business owner, but provided no further details. The whereabouts of the jewelry remained unclear until now.
The special counsel plans to first verify whether the necklace is the same one worn during the NATO trip and whether it is authentic.
Kim’s side previously told prosecutors that the necklace was a replica and thus exempt from reporting requirements, which apply to gifts or assets valued at more than 5 million won.
Prosecutors are now looking into why the necklace was stored at a relative’s home, whether it was received from someone else, and whether other seized items also belong to Kim. They will also track down the current locations of the Tiffany brooch and Cartier bracelet.
Alleged misuse of diplomatic resources
The special counsel is also reviewing allegations that Kim used official overseas trips and diplomatic support for personal purposes. Throughout Yoon’s term, Kim’s foreign visits have repeatedly sparked controversy.
One incident under scrutiny is her reported visit to a clothing store in Lithuania during the 2023 NATO summit. Investigators are examining whether elements of her itineraries were arranged without formal diplomatic procedures or if public funds were used for private activities such as shopping.
There are also claims that Foreign Ministry officials were diverted from their duties to assist with her protocol.
In one case, officials allegedly intervened to help her obtain a “silver mark” verification badge on Twitter (now X), a designation normally reserved for government entities or international organizations. If improper instructions were given, this could also become subject to investigation.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.