President Yoon's mother-in-law released on parole

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon, who had been in prison for forging documents, was released on parole on Tuesday.

President Yoon Suk Yeol's mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon, is released from the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon, who had been in prison for forging documents, was released on parole on Tuesday.

Choi, who emerged from the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center with her face covered by a mask and wearing a purple hat and scarf around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, did not respond to reporters’ questions and entered a car waiting in front of the main gate of the facility.

Around 30 people, including YouTubers and supporters of Choi, gathered at the detention center on Tuesday morning. The police deployed about 150 personnel near the facility to prevent disturbances.

Choi, 77, was found guilty by a court last year of document forgery and purchasing land under someone else’s name. The Ministry of Justice unanimously decided that Choi was eligible for parole during its parole review held at the Gwacheon Government Complex in Gyeonggi last Wednesday.

In 2013, Choi falsified her bank statement, which stated she had 34.9 billion won ($25.5 million) in deposits, to purchase real estate in Dochon-dong in Seongnam, Gyeonggi.

She was also charged with using another person’s name when purchasing property.

Choi had been imprisoned at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center since July 21, 2023. She was taken into custody after the appellate court upheld the ruling of a one-year prison sentence.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]