Jo Su-jin: "Meetings of First Lady and Female Lawmakers Were Also Held by Previous Governments"

"Lee Hee-ho Meets Female Journalists Four Times a Year"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Regarding First Lady Kim Geon-hee's decision to meet separately with female lawmakers at the New Year's greeting event on the 2nd, Rep. Cho Su-jin of the People Power Party dismissed interpretations that this was an attempt to 'expand her political footprint,' saying, "This was done in previous administrations as well," rejecting any overinterpretation.

On the 4th, on YTN's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon,' Rep. Cho said, "Lunches or dinners between the president's wife and female lawmakers have been quite delayed," expressing this view.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

She added, "This was done in previous administrations as well," and said, "In my case, especially during the Kim Dae-jung administration when I was a reporter, I entered the Blue House State Guest House up to four times a year during the time of First Lady Lee Hee-ho.

She continued, "Despite being a reporter, I visited the Blue House State Guest House continuously during the tenures of First Ladies Lee Hee-ho, Kwon Yang-sook, and Kim Yoon-ok. On the contrary, I never went during First Lady Kim Jung-sook's time," and said, "The president's wife has continuously met with female lawmakers, various women's organizations, and female journalists. This is just something that has been done, not a special or unique expansion of Kim Geon-hee's political footprint."

Rep. Cho, through her social media on the 2nd, had shared Kim's voice saying, "The president is still having a hard time. Please help in the new year," which attracted attention. Rep. Cho recalled the atmosphere at the time, saying, "We stood while eating and had light refreshments, and the president and first lady went around each table giving New Year's greetings," and added, "'The president is still having a hard time' really resonated with me."

She said, "Although the government has changed, in the National Assembly, we cannot actively do much, so I think this is a request to continue working fiercely with the mindset that we are still opposition lawmakers, to work hard and intensely.

It is known that First Lady Kim also conveyed messages to female lawmakers including Rep. Hwang Bo-seung-hee, such as 'female lawmakers need to do well' and 'I will invite you soon.' Rep. Cho said, "The request to female lawmakers is because women tend to have relative delicacy," and explained, "It can be interpreted as a request to carefully look after easily overlooked areas such as accompanying the vulnerable and welfare blind spots."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, did not attend the New Year's greeting event citing scheduling conflicts. Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom blamed the government, saying, "The president invited opposition leaders but sent only one email and asked for a quick reply four hours before the event, which is not basic courtesy or protocol."

However, Rep. Cho said, "If the Ministry of the Interior and Safety sent just one email to invite the opposition leader, then how did Lee Jeong-mi, leader of the Justice Party, who received the same email, come? That is really curious," and added, "Due to various legal risks surrounding Lee, it is very difficult for the president to meet her one-on-one, but in that case, it would have been even more necessary for those around to advise her to attend when multiple people gathered."

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