[President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol] Reclusive No More, 'First Lady' Kim Geon-hee "Will Support by His Side"

Controversy Over False Career Claims and Stock Manipulation Allegations 'Spouse Risk' Impact
Expectations for Future Actions Based on Past Cultural and Arts Experience
"I Will Strive to Ensure the Elected Official Pays More Attention to Society's Shadows"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and his wife Kim Geon-hee are voting at an early voting station set up at the Seocho 1-dong Community Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 4th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Kim Geon-hee, wife of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, is increasingly likely to step out of her reclusive path and participate in public schedules.

Kim has attracted public attention with her sophisticated appearance and active social activity history. However, when she became the center of 'spouse risk,' she did not appear in public. Unlike the wives of prominent presidential candidates who played the role of 'supporters' in the past, she unusually maintained a nearly reclusive path. With her husband's presidential election, her scope of activity is expected to expand.

Right after Yoon's election was confirmed, Kim said, "I will do my best to assist the president-elect in faithfully fulfilling the mission entrusted to him," and added, "I will strive to ensure that the president-elect pays more attention to the shadowed areas of society where the government's reach does not extend."

Born in 1972 in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, as the second daughter among two sons and two daughters, Kim majored in Western painting at Kyonggi University and earned a master's degree in art education from Sookmyung Women's University Graduate School of Education. In 2007, she founded the cultural arts company Kobana Contents, gaining recognition as an entrepreneur by planning famous exhibitions and performances. Because of this, there is interest in whether she will play a role in the cultural and arts sector where she has long been active. Choi Jin, president of the Presidential Leadership Institute, said, "She should gradually increase her activities in areas of her interest such as culture and arts, as well as traditional First Lady concerns like volunteering for the disabled, children, and marginalized groups." However, a People Power Party campaign office official stated, "Since she stopped exhibition business about a year ago, she is expected to focus on the role of the president's spouse."

Since holding a public apology press conference at the Yeouido party headquarters at the end of December last year regarding controversies over her resume, Kim has mostly moved on private schedules. It was interpreted that public activities became more difficult amid the ruling party's relentless offensive. She missed all the anticipated debut dates such as Shinjeong, Lunar New Year, and the official start of the election campaign on February 15. Although there was discussion about establishing a dedicated spouse team within the campaign headquarters, it was canceled due to successive adverse events such as allegations of stock manipulation of Doich Motors and false resume controversies.

Meanwhile, she faced another ordeal due to the so-called '7-hour call' recording scandal. The transcript, revealed through MBC Straight's report in January, contained private conversations between Kim and a reporter from the YouTube channel 'Voice of Seoul.' Particularly controversial were remarks related to shamanism and sorcery, as well as mentions of the victim in the former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung case. Ultimately, Kim did not appear until the last day of the campaign. However, on the 14th of last month, she met Pastor Kim Jang-hwan, chairman of Far East Broadcasting Company, and on the 17th, she visited Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam, Seoul.

Kim is known for her frank and bold personality. Following the recording scandal, her popularity among the public even increased. After the so-called '7-hour transcript' was released in January, the number of members in Kim Geon-hee's Naver fan cafe 'Geonsarang' grew to 70,000.

On the 4th, Kim participated in early voting alone at the Seocho 1-dong Community Center near her home in Seocho-gu, Seoul. She also did not accompany President-elect Yoon when he visited the vote counting situation room and party headquarters after his victory was confirmed on the 10th.

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