First Lady Kim Geon-hee Visits Lee Soon-ja... Met with Wives of Senior Ruling Party Members a Few Days Ago (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the afternoon of the 16th, First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, paid a visit to Lee Soon-ja, the widow of the late President Jeon Du-hwan.

A presidential office official stated during a briefing held at the Yongsan Presidential Office that day, "The President originally intended to visit the widows of former presidents one by one to greet them and seek their advice," explaining the visit.

The official added, "(First Lady Kim) had planned to visit quietly and privately. Therefore, the visit was prepared without notifying the public and with a minimal number of accompanying personnel. However, it was unintentionally disclosed to the media, which led to the announcement."

One presidential office staff member accompanied First Lady Kim on the visit. This appears to be in consideration of the controversy over private activities that arose when she visited the late former President Roh Moo-hyun’s gravesite in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, on the 13th and paid respects to his widow Kwon Yang-sook, accompanied by her acquaintance, Professor Kim from Chungnam National University, and former employees of Kobana Contents.

At that time, the presidential office explained that the Kobana employees had recently resigned and were newly hired as presidential office staff.

When reporters asked questions such as "Is there a message from the President?" and "Did you coordinate the schedule with the presidential office?" First Lady Kim entered Lee Soon-ja’s residence without responding.

First Lady Kim entered Lee’s residence at 2:55 p.m. and left at 4:27 p.m. After the visit, she did not answer questions from waiting reporters about "What was discussed?", "When do you plan to visit Yangsan?", and "Why was the number of accompanying personnel reduced?"

Regarding the media’s comment that First Lady Kim’s visit to Lee Soon-ja contradicts the public sentiment and President Yoon’s recent attendance at the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement memorial ceremony alongside most People Power Party lawmakers and the Cabinet, another presidential office official responded, "Meeting the widows of former presidents is an act of national courtesy by the presidential couple." It is also known that First Lady Kim plans to visit the residence of former President Moon Jae-in in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, soon to meet Moon’s wife, Kim Jung-sook.

Additionally, the presidential office announced that First Lady Kim had a meeting with the wives of senior ruling party lawmakers on the 14th. The Yongsan Presidential Office spokesperson’s office stated in a press release that "On June 14 (Tuesday), a luncheon was held at the Yongsan Defense Convention with 11 wives of People Power Party lawmakers who have served four or more terms."

This was also a private event, but after media reports, the presidential office confirmed the facts and made an announcement. The presidential office plans to conduct future visits by the First Lady privately and provide briefings afterward if reports are made.

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