Choo Mi-ae: "Kim Gun-hee's husband giving irrelevant answers... Already imagining being treated as First Lady"

Yoon Claims, "Stop Using 'First Lady' and Abolish the Blue House Second Office"
Choo Says, "Asked About Timing of Comeback but Avoids Verification"

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae criticized Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, for claiming that if he is elected, the term 'First Lady' should not be used, calling him "Kim Geon-hee's husband who gives irrelevant answers."

Former Minister Chu said in a Facebook post on the 22nd, "Already imagining being treated as the First Lady and acting as if it is humble not to be called the First Lady is an irrelevant answer that shows a lack of understanding of the issue and is going too far," she said.

Earlier, in an interview with Dong-A Ilbo on the same day, when asked about the timing of Kim's public appearance, Yoon said, "There was no plan from the beginning. My wife extremely dislikes politics. Let's not even use the term First Lady," indicating his intention to run the presidential election without Kim's public activities. Yoon also said he would "abolish the Blue House's Second Office in charge of the First Lady," implying that even if elected president, there would be no First Lady activities.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is speaking at a meeting of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies held on the 21st at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

In response, former Minister Chu pointed out, "Until now, he acted as a devoted husband who greatly respects his wife by saying he would 'ask his wife' about the timing of her public appearance, and Kim Geon-hee also expressed confidence and asked for advice on when to appear. Suddenly switching to a withdrawal mode is a strategy to avoid scrutiny."

She explained, "Whether called the First Lady or not, the president's spouse occupies the most intimate position that is not transparently monitored. Therefore, it is a position with a grave responsibility not to interfere with the president's public domain and public duties out of personal interests," adding, "Moreover, even when there was no spouse, former President Park Geun-hye allowed Choi Soon-sil (Choi Seo-won) to secretly infiltrate the presidential residence, exploiting the president for private gain and manipulating state affairs."

She continued, "The issue with Kim Geon-hee and her husband is that, in light of their past actions and suspicions, they lack a sense of public responsibility and attitude," and criticized, "Furthermore, it is irrelevant to imagine being treated as the First Lady already when Kim Geon-hee, who is a suspect under investigation, is not being investigated."

Additionally, she said, "'The Kim Geon-hee Gate' is not merely about Kim Geon-hee's personal deceit," but "it questions Yoon Seok-yeol's standards of fairness and common sense, and whether he has handled this issue transparently and honestly and is prepared to do so," highlighting it as a problem concerning Yoon Seok-yeol himself.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.