The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, August 19, 2022 | 22:27
Politics
First lady thrust back into spotlight over unofficial aide
Posted : 2022-07-06 17:18
Updated : 2022-07-07 13:25
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee walk toward Air Force One at Madrid―Barajas Airport in Madrid, June 30. Newsis
President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee walk toward Air Force One at Madrid―Barajas Airport in Madrid, June 30. Newsis

Anyone close to first lady without formal title is easy target for political attacks

By Jung Min-ho

In the run-up to the presidential election, President Yoon Suk-yeol vowed to abolish the office that had supported the president's spouse amid controversy surrounding the luxury wardrobe of former first lady Kim Jung-sook.

Two months after he stepped into office, Yoon is already struggling to keep that promise. His wife, Kim Keon-hee, has been thrust back into the spotlight following revelations that she received support from the wife of Lee Won-mo, a presidential aide, during their official trip to Madrid for the NATO Summit (June 28-30).

The massive influence-peddling scandal that eventually brought down former President Park Geun-hye is still fresh in the public's memory and anyone close to the president and his wife without an official title is an easy target for political attacks in Korea.

According to sources at the presidential office Wednesday, Lee's wife, whose name remains undisclosed, helped arrange events in Madrid. But the presidential office denied she was as an assistant to the first lady during the NATO trip.

"She had never accompanied or assisted the first lady," an official at the office said.

Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the interim leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said it was inappropriate to allow a civilian to take part in the trip.

"Choi Soon-sil, the woman who meddled in state affairs, was also a longtime confidant of former President Park," Woo said during a CBS radio show. "On Air Force One, many state secrets are handled … I think this issue should be addressed at the National Assembly."

Rep. Kang Hoon-sik also accused the presidential office of giving Lee's wife access to confidential information, such as who the president was going to meet and where he planned to visit. Kang claimed that the incident constitutes "a lapse in state discipline."

"Only five years ago, candlelight protests erupted in anger following the influence-peddling scandal. I will not ignore what could be another such scandal. I demand an investigation," he said in a statement.

The presidential office said there are no legal issues with civilians joining the entourage for the president's overseas trip.

"Given her experience as a planner for international events, she had the expertise we needed … She was not even paid for what she did there due to concerns over conflicts of interest," the official said.

The presidential office, he added, reviewed whether to hire the woman, who has known the president and the first lady for a long time as the wife of the former prosecutor, but concluded that it would be inappropriate.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee walk toward Air Force One at Madrid―Barajas Airport in Madrid, June 30. Newsis
First lady Kim Keon-hee attends a dinner with Korean residents in Spain at a hotel in Madrid, June 29. Newsis

From the very beginning, Kim ― with her charming appearance and keen sense of fashion style ― has drawn much attention, unlike previous first ladies. Yet her unconventional approach to the role is expected to remain as a risk factor for Yoon, who himself is a political novice.

This was not the first time Kim had provoked controversy by being accompanied by a personal aide. When she visited Bongha, the hometown of former President Roh Moo-hyun, on June 13 to meet his widow Kwon Yang-sook, the first lady was accompanied by a woman. Opposition lawmakers raised suspicions that she might be a shaman. She was later revealed to be a college professor and Kim's former colleague.

Two days later, Yoon admitted that his wife needs administrative support to play the role of first lady and hinted at making (or reviving) an office to handle that job.


Emailmj6c2@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Suga of BTS remakes Galaxy's signature ringtone
  • Seoul to provide subsidies to households with babysitting grandparents
  • Hit TV series leads to surge in visitors to southern region of Korea seeking glimpse of dolphins
  • Korean businesses pressure gov't to lower inheritance tax
  • Government struggles to handle unused coronavirus vaccines
  • Yoon to reshuffle presidential office to regain public trust
  • Minister rebuked for 'submissive' stance toward Japan
  • Household income grows at record pace amid soaring inflation
  • Rare Joseon-era spherical sundial unveiled to public
  • Shinsegae to open integrated shopping mall in Gwangju
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • 'Mukbang' binge-eating shows give way to new trend of eating little 'Mukbang' binge-eating shows give way to new trend of eating little
    • [INTERVIEW] YouTubers bridge Korean, Muslim and Latin American cultures [INTERVIEW] YouTubers bridge Korean, Muslim and Latin American cultures
    • [INTERVIEW] Jung Woo shapes his character for Netflix's 'A Model Family' [INTERVIEW] Jung Woo shapes his character for Netflix's 'A Model Family'
    • NCT Jaehyun drops first solo single 'Forever Only' NCT Jaehyun drops first solo single 'Forever Only'
    • Artist Do Ho Suh invites children to his clay fairyland Artist Do Ho Suh invites children to his clay fairyland
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group