"In Court, Kim Keon-hee Kept Glancing at Yoon Suk Yeol, Then Broke Down in Tears Back at the Detention Center"

[Financial News] Attorney Yu Jeong-hwa, who represents former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, urged people to refrain from speculative and exaggerated reports about the couple’s encounter in court, saying, "Please remember that they are human beings with emotions, and that they are a married couple."
On the late afternoon of the 15th, Yu posted a message on social media titled "They Are a Married Couple Too."
Yu wrote, "From the perspective of a lawyer representing both sides, the scene at 2 p.m. on the 14th, when Mrs. Kim Keon-hee appeared as a witness in President Yoon’s case, was an extremely heartbreaking and painful moment," adding, "After entering the courtroom, Mrs. Kim glanced sideways at the president several times, and during the questioning she became choked up and her nose turned red."
Yu continued, "Her voice trembled slightly, but she ultimately held back her tears and, in a small voice, stated that she would exercise her right to refuse to testify," and added, "Throughout the more than 40 questions, you could fully sense the sadness and joy between the two, and even the defense lawyers had to take deep breaths because of the tension."
In court, a witness sits facing the judge with their back to the gallery. Reporters and spectators seated in the gallery could not see Kim’s face, but the lawyers seated in front to the right of the witness stand were able to see her expression.
Yu also conveyed Kim’s feelings, saying, "Mrs. Kim told me, 'I barely remember how I got back to the detention center after finishing my testimony yesterday, and once I returned, I cried a great deal.'"
She went on, "I am not writing this to elicit anyone’s sympathy," stressing, "Some distorted and speculative reports are spreading, and I am simply trying to set the record straight by conveying the facts as they are."
Yu appealed, "We must not erase the fact that they, too, are people with emotions and that they, too, are a married couple. If any married couple were separated and then met again—especially if they met in a courtroom—wouldn’t it be natural for deep feelings to arise?" She added, "Please look at the two of them from that perspective."
On the 14th, Kim appeared as a witness at the trial of former President Yoon, held by Criminal Division 33 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Jin-gwan, in connection with the Myung Tae-gyun free polling bribery case. It was their first meeting in court 278 days after they were separated by Yoon’s detention.
When Kim entered the courtroom with the support of a correctional officer that day, former President Yoon looked at her with a faint smile. During the special prosecutor’s questioning of Kim, however, his expression at times twisted with discomfort. Kim spent most of her testimony with her head bowed or looking at the evidence presented by the special prosecutor on the monitor. It was reported that Yoon and Kim briefly made eye contact during the hearing.
moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter