Jailed Kim Keon-hee drew 961 health complaints in 19 days; prison report says she eats
In short
A Seoul detention centre received 961 complaints about the health of jailed former first lady Kim Keon-hee between July 27 and August 14, against 3 in May, according to data obtained by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom. An internal prison report says she received IV fluids for dizziness in August but eats some prison meals and food bought with her own commissary money, at odds with court testimony that she hardly eats. Her detention period in the Supreme Court appeal expires on October 31.
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Seoul Southern Detention Center received 961 complaints about the health of jailed former first lady Kim Keon-hee in the 19 days from July 27 to August 14, according to data that Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom (김의겸) obtained from the Justice Ministry. In May there had been 3 such complaints; Maeil Business put the rise at more than 300-fold. CBS NoCut News, which cited an internal detention centre report dated August 27, said the complaints asked about her health or demanded better treatment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The outlets linked the surge to courtroom testimony. At the first hearing of Kim's appeal on a charge of brokering bribes under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, before the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 15-3 in August, former presidential office administrator Jeong Ji-won (정지원) said Kim "has to lie down all day and hardly eats, so she has no strength to stand up." Asia Economy dated the hearing August 26 and described Jeong as Kim's former aide. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The internal report obtained by the lawmaker's office gives a different picture, the outlets reported. It says Kim complained of dizziness in August and received IV fluids on medical staff's judgment, but eats the detention centre's group meals selectively and eats food bought with her commissary money. CBS NoCut News dated the IV treatment August 5. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Kim's detention period in the Supreme Court appeal of her case expires on October 31; CBS NoCut News said the case has been referred to the court's full bench. Some in the legal community suggest the health claims and mass complaints may be groundwork for a bail request or release, Yonhap, CBS NoCut News and Asia Economy reported, while Dong-A Ilbo and Maeil Business attributed the suspicion to politicians. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Kim Eui-kyeom said complaints about Kim's meals were taking correctional officers' time away from other inmates and "should not be misread or misused as grounds for special treatment such as release," adding that the same strict principles must apply to all inmates. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
CBS NoCut News reported that Kim's lawyer Yoo Jung-hwa (유정화) wrote on social media that thanks to supporters' complaints her medication was adjusted and she received IV treatment. It also said Seoul Detention Center received 217 complaints about former president Yoon Suk Yeol from July last year to September this year, and that correctional authorities said no special treatment resulted. Maeil Business reported that at a Supreme Court audit on October 6, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Kyun-taek (박균택) raised the possibility of Kim's release if no ruling is issued by October 31; Chief Justice Jo Hee-de said he could not comment on trial matters. [ 1 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The figures come as Kim Keon-hee's detention period nears its October 31 expiry, and some in the legal community and in politics suggest the health claims and mass complaints could lay groundwork for a bail request or release. Lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom said the complaints take correctional officers' time from other inmates and should not become grounds for special treatment.
Key facts
- Seoul Southern Detention Center received 961 complaints about Kim Keon-hee's health in the 19 days from July 27 to August 14. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- In May there were 3 such complaints. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The data were obtained by the office of Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Former presidential office administrator Jeong Ji-won testified at an August appeal hearing that Kim hardly eats. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- An internal prison report says Kim received IV fluids after complaining of dizziness in August, eats prison group meals selectively and eats food bought with commissary money. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kim's detention period in the Supreme Court appeal of her case expires on October 31. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- 961 complaints about Kim Keon-hee's health were filed with Seoul Southern Detention Center between July 27 and August 14, up from 3 in May. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Jeong Ji-won, a former presidential office administrator, testified at the first appeal hearing before the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 15-3 in August that Kim lies down all day and hardly eats. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The internal prison report says Kim was given IV fluids for dizziness in August and eats prison meals selectively along with food bought with commissary money. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kim's detention period in the Supreme Court appeal expires on October 31. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kim Eui-kyeom said the complaints should not be misread or misused as grounds for release or special treatment and that the same strict principles should apply to all inmates. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- How much Kim Keon-hee is actually eating. Courtroom testimony said she hardly eats and cannot stand; the internal prison report describes selective eating of prison meals plus purchased food. Maeil Business notes this does not mean she had no health problems.
- Whether the complaints and health claims are groundwork for a bail request or release. This is an interpretation attributed to some in the legal community and politicians; no document reports a bail request.
- Who organised the complaints. Only CBS NoCut News reports that her lawyer Yoo Jung-hwa posted on social media thanking supporters for their complaints, which it says appeared to encourage them.
- Exact date of the IV treatment. Only CBS NoCut News gives August 5; the other outlets say August.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CBS NoCut News reports the complaint figures and the internal detention centre report, citing Kim Eui-kyeom's office. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the 961 complaints from Justice Ministry data obtained by Kim Eui-kyeom's office. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the figures and the court testimony. [ 3 ]
- Maeil Business reports the figures and the October 6 Supreme Court audit exchange. [ 4 ]