Opposition Criticizes Kim Geon-hee, Ruling Party Responds, "Why Not a Positive Influence?"

Democrats Criticize Kim's Visit to Children with Heart Disease as "Poverty Porn"
Ruling Party Responds, "Won't Help Democrats. Truly Sad"

First Lady Kim Keon-hee visits a child with congenital heart disease. / Photo by the Presidential Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Members of the ruling party have collectively pushed back against criticism regarding First Lady Kim Keon-hee’s visit to comfort children with heart disease in Cambodia during President Yoon Seok-yeol’s Southeast Asia tour. The People Power Party has called for disciplinary action against Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae, who labeled Kim’s actions as 'poverty porn.' Poverty porn refers to videos or photos that depict poverty in a sensationalized way to evoke sympathy and solicit donations or support.

On the 15th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a party strategy meeting at the National Assembly, "The distorted mindset of the Democratic Party is revealed, as they disparage the First Lady’s pure volunteer work and criticize President Yoon’s activities unconditionally." He added, "Calling any woman, especially the First Lady, a poverty pornographer is extremely insulting and anti-women." He then urged the Democratic Party to promptly discipline lawmaker Jang.

Fellow party member Yoon Sang-hyun appeared on CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show' and said, "The attacks on the First Lady have gone too far. It’s outright stalking," adding, "I don’t understand what poverty porn means. Didn’t we know that actress Kim Hye-ja also did a lot of such activities before? Audrey Hepburn too?are they all poverty porn?"

He continued, "Look at the past First Ladies’ activities. They did a lot of social volunteer work helping children with heart disease," and criticized the Democratic Party, saying, "As a result, sponsors are reportedly flooding in. Why do you only criticize when such positive influence is being exerted?"

Regarding the controversy, former lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook appeared on SBS’s 'Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show' and pointed out, "It seems there is no judgment on the gravity of the matter." She said, "At the G20 summit, the U.S. President and Chinese President met for the first time, and there were many major issues discussing the Indo-Pacific strategy, economy, and security. It was a major event attracting global media attention, yet our political circles are calling the First Lady 'poverty porn'? It makes me think, 'Is there nothing else to comment on?' I feel somewhat empty."

She added, "It’s really sad. Politically, the Democratic Party’s approach doesn’t seem beneficial," and said, "Because the public is thinking, 'Is this really that important?' 'Does it matter enough to set up photos and have the political world jump on it?' 'Why do they make stalking the First Lady their hobby?' I wish they would stop such behavior."

The Democratic Party has criticized First Lady Kim for not attending official spousal events during President Yoon’s tour and instead carrying out personal schedules such as visiting local hospitals. In particular, they took issue with a photo released showing Kim holding a boy with heart disease, calling it a "staged act of kindness." Some have also pointed out that this photo closely resembles images of actress Audrey Hepburn’s past refugee relief activities.

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