Former First Lady Kim Keon-hee sat on a royal throne at a closed palace in 2023, sparking controversy over protocol and access.

Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee sparked controversy in September 2023 by sitting on the royal throne at Gyeongbokgung Palace’s Geunjeong Hall during a private visit while the site was closed, according to the Korea Heritage Service and a parliamentary audit. The throne, a replica of a National Treasure, symbolizes absolute royal authority and has no precedent of being occupied by a civilian or sitting president. Kim, accompanied by senior aides and former officials, reportedly sat on the seat for one to two minutes at the urging of Lee Bae-yong, with security assistance. The visit, logged as a VIP entry, lasted nearly two hours and drew scrutiny over protocol and access to culturally significant sites, especially after a photo surfaced. The incident intensified ongoing investigations into her conduct, including allegations of influence peddling and misuse of power during her husband President Yoon Suk-yeol’s tenure.