[The Editors' Verdict] President Yoon, Establish an Organization for the First Lady

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, founded Kobana Contents in 2007. The company, primarily focused on exhibition planning, was named after Kona in Hawaii and Havana in Cuba. However, the 'businesswoman Kim Keon-hee' no longer exists. She stepped away from work after her husband was elected president. Although some spoke of a 'businesswoman First Lady,' it seems she judged that this was not yet feasible in the Korean context. This is a disappointing scene for those who had hoped for a new model of a presidential spouse.

Not much is known about Mrs. Kim. During the presidential election process, various controversies such as false resume allegations and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation scandal mainly remain in the public's memory. The scene on December 26 last year, when she tearfully apologized for the false resume allegations, saying, "Even if my husband becomes president, I will only focus on my role as a wife," is still vivid. However, few people know what kind of personality she has or how she makes decisions.

The most vivid exposure of Mrs. Kim was in the 7 hours and 45 minutes of the 'Kim Keon-hee recordings' from last year, during a phone call with a reporter from Seoul's Sound. Statements such as "If I give instructions here, they organize the entire camp" and "Power is scary because once you grab it, they get indicted without us even ordering it" caused a significant stir. These were blunt remarks, raising suspicions that she might be exerting influence during the election campaign.

A reporter who met Mrs. Kim earlier this year recorded her saying, "(I) have a straightforward personality. I am not the type to speak indirectly. So, I am not the type to depend on anyone. My husband is the same. He thinks of me like a daughter and tries to take good care of me. But before being Yoon Suk-yeol's wife, I was a businesswoman, Kim Keon-hee. (My husband) does not interfere much in my work. We respect each other's situations and positions." A close aide of President Yoon, whom I met last month, said something similar: "(Mrs. Kim) has a strong grip. In some ways, she seems stronger than President Yoon. I understand the president listens well to her."

Now that her husband is president, Mrs. Kim has become a 'gye-ryuk' (a chicken rib?something of little value but hard to discard). As the president who declared the abolition of the Second Office, an organization for the presidential spouse, he would be reluctant to announce its revival. However, if Mrs. Kim continues to move without precise management as she does now, it is highly likely that this will become a burden on political administration. One example is the controversy surrounding a person who accompanied Mrs. Kim during her visit to Bongha Village. When the president's spouse moves, it is essential to receive media attention, so it is not easy to maintain the concept of a 'private visit.' Moreover, Mrs. Kim is already under media scrutiny regarding her mother and brother.

President Yoon, when asked about this by reporters, said, "Since this is my first time being president, I don't know how to distinguish between official and unofficial matters... Please tell me how." It seems the president is taking the situation too lightly. Mrs. Kim's current movements appear to be outside of management control. The idea that she will "only support" is far from reality, and it is not easy to only provide support. The president's spouse and relatives have historically been sensitive topics for the public due to many incidents. It would be better to establish an organization responsible for the spouse and appoint a special inspector for the presidential office before it is too late.

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