First Lady Kim Keon-hee testifies as a witness at the continuation trial of former Justice Minister Park Sung-hyun for the charge of engaging in important state affairs on April 13 in Seoul Seocho-gu at the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 33 (Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan). [Provided by Seoul Central District Court] 

First Lady Kim Keon-hee denied the alleged "Yulli suspicions" that she worked at an entertainment bar in the past while testifying in court.

Ms. Kim appeared as a witness at the continuation trial for Ahn Hae-wook, former chairman of the Korea Taekwondo Association, on charges including violations of the Public Official Election Act, held on the 20th at the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 34 (Presiding Judge Han Sung-jin), and countered, "The Yulli suspicions do not make sense."

On this day, a partition was installed between the defendant's seat and the witness stand at the request of Ms. Kim's side.

Ms. Kim's side stated, "I am not in good health and am taking psychiatric medication," and added, "I feel anxious about being in the same space as the perpetrators."

The court did not accept Ms. Kim's side's request for a closed trial.

During the prosecution's questioning, as the prosecutor presented the indictment and asked, "Were all the reports by the YouTube channel 'Yeollingonggam TV' about the so-called Yulli suspicions and cohabitation rumors false and untrue?" Ms. Kim replied, "Yes." To the question, "Are all the witness testimonies by Mr. Ahn stating 'I saw Ms. Kim working at an entertainment bar in the past' also false?" she also responded, "Yes."

When asked if she had ever used the alias 'Yulli,' she firmly stated, "Never, not even once."

Regarding Mr. Ahn, she claimed, "I don't know him at all, and I've never even heard his name."

She also testified that she never worked as an entertainer at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel's underground entertainment bar in 1995.

In response, Ms. Kim explained, "At that time, I entered the graduate school of Sookmyung Women's University to obtain a teaching certificate," adding, "I attended school in the mornings and evenings."

She further countered, "I was a student then, I was young, and it was not a situation where I could be going in and out of hotels. It was a period when I was studying hard to get my teaching certificate."

In the subsequent cross-examination by the defense counsel, when asked, "Is it correct not to use the title 'Yulli writer'?" Ms. Kim retorted, "I have never used even the letter 'Ju' from Yulli in my titles. I used the name 'Jenny' on my mini-homepage and in chat rooms."

She also added, "Everyone who knows me calls me Jenny (my English name)."

Regarding how she met her spouse, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, she explained, "I knew many prosecutors, not just Prosecutor Yoon Suk-yeol, who was known as a bachelor. At that time, a 'Project to Get Yoon Suk-yeol Married' was underway, and people helped us connect. When I spoke with (former President Yoon), I felt he was a man of character and highly valued him." She added, "A former Prosecutor General even said, 'I vouch for Seok-yeol with my character,' and that's when we started dating."

At the end of the trial, Ms. Kim raised her voice, saying, "I've been holding it in since a while ago. I was raised in a wealthy family but was suspected of entertaining guests. I've never used the name Yulli, but because of that, I've suffered from mental illness for six years. You've made one person's life a lie."

She then appealed to her lawyer, "Put your hand on your heart and think. If I were Yulli, I would die here," expressing her sense of injustice.

When asked by the prosecution if she wished for the punishment of Mr. Ahn and others, she paused for a moment before saying, "If they do not sincerely repent, I wish for their punishment."

Mr. Ahn was indicted for allegedly making statements prior to the 20th presidential election in 2022, claiming, "I saw Ms. Kim working at an entertainment bar in the past." Jeong Cheon-su, the former CEO of the YouTube channel 'Yeollingonggam TV,' which reported Mr. Ahn's statements in an interview format, is also on trial.

The prosecution believes that they disseminated false information with the intention of causing the then-People Power Party presidential candidate, former President Yoon, to lose the election and has brought them to trial.