Kim Geon-hee's First Public Solo Schedule in 128 Days... Attends Red Cross Bazaar Event

Mrs. Kim "Grateful to the Red Cross for Leading Humanitarian Work for 117 Years"
First Public Solo Schedule in Over 4 Months Since Mrs. Kwon Yang-sook's Visit
'Schedule First, Then Public Disclosure → Public Disclosure First, Then Schedule'... Mrs. Kim's Public Activities Expected to Intensify

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, appeared in a public solo schedule on the 18th, 128 days after visiting First Lady Kwon Yang-sook, wife of former President Roh Moo-hyun.

On the same day, Kim attended the '2022 Red Cross Bazaar' event hosted by the Korean Red Cross Women's Volunteer Special Advisory Committee, held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

The Korean Red Cross invites the president's wife, who serves as the honorary president, every year to events such as the Red Cross Bazaar and the making of gifts of love for neighbors, and many former presidential wives have participated, explained Lee Jae-myung, deputy spokesperson of the presidential office, in a written briefing.

Kim toured all 59 booths one by one, encouraging volunteers attending the bazaar, and purchased items such as neckties, coats, knits, crafts, gochujang, and salted shrimp at booths for donated goods and recyclables, as well as booths operated by wives of foreign diplomats stationed in Korea.

Kim expressed her gratitude, saying, "I thank the Korean Red Cross, which has led humanitarian work for marginalized neighbors in our society for the past 117 years, and the members of the Women's Volunteer Special Advisory Committee and the Demand Volunteer Society who are practicing noblesse oblige (the moral obligation according to social status)."

This was Kim's first public solo schedule in about four months since June 13, when she visited First Lady Kwon in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam. During this period, Kim has focused on private activities based on 'good deeds and volunteering.'

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, visited Andersen Memorial Park in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on the 12th, one day before the 2nd anniversary of the 'Jung-in case,' in which a child died due to abuse and neglect by adoptive parents. She paid tribute to the deceased and tidied the area around the grave. / Photo by the Presidential Office [Image source=Yonhap News]

Mrs. Kim visited 'Anna's House,' a social welfare facility in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, on August 31st and volunteered to wash dishes at the cafeteria. / Photo by Father Kim Hajong (Baptismal name Vincenzo Bordo) Facebook capture [Image source=Yonhap News]

After the heavy rains in August, Kim conducted more than three private volunteer activities over two weeks, mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area. On August 31, she also volunteered for about two hours serving meals and washing dishes at 'Anna's House,' run by Father Kim Ha-jong, who is from Italy.

It is known that only a minimal number of personnel carried out Kim's private volunteer activities. Father Kim said that after the volunteer work and before a separate informal meeting, he did not recognize Kim.

On the 12th of this month, ahead of the second anniversary of the Jeong-in case, Kim visited the Andersen Memorial Park in Yangpyeong to pay respects at the grave and honor the deceased's spirit. All volunteer-related activities were not announced in advance to the press corps and were reported through tips and media coverage.

Unlike previous schedules accompanying President Yoon, such as overseas trips and Liberation Day ceremonies, which were conducted in a 'schedule first, then public announcement' format, this event was held in a 'public announcement first, then schedule' manner by the presidential office, leading to speculation that Kim's public activities will become more active going forward.

However, a presidential office official cautioned against overinterpretation regarding the reason for the special announcement of this schedule, stating, "From a practical standpoint, since it is a very large event with many attendees, we announced it to prevent coverage from sources other than reporters who have access to the presidential office."

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