Kim Haeng Denies 'Kim Geonhee Friendship Rumors': "How Could I Have Picked Up Someone After 40 Years of Activity?" (Summary)

"Not Even a Member of the Woldanhoe"

On the 5th, Kim Haeng, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, strongly denied claims that Kim Geon-hee, the First Lady, was behind her appointment, saying, "I have been active in the media, political parties, and politics for nearly 40 years. How could the First Lady have picked me up and placed me in this position?"

At the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly that day, Kim made these remarks in response to a question from Jo Eun-hee, a member of the People Power Party, who said, "There are Democratic Party of Korea statements claiming that you became the Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee due to your close relationship with First Lady Kim Geon-hee."

Kim said, "First Lady Kim is a very successful exhibition planner in the cultural field and a businesswoman, isn't she? I believe you can understand a person's role and achievements by looking at what they have done," adding, "To be honest, I did not know the First Lady."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

She continued, "She (the First Lady) is successful in her own right, and I believe I have influence in the political sphere in my own way. There is no overlap between us," and questioned, "Then how could I have been picked up by the First Lady? Do acquaintances overlap?"

Kim repeatedly denied the rumors of a close relationship with First Lady Kim Geon-hee. She also stated that she was not part of the group called 'Woldanhoe,' which the First Lady is known to be a member of.

During the morning hearing, when Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Kyung-sook asked, "Is it true that you have only seen the First Lady twice?" Kim replied, "As far as I remember, definitely yes." When asked, "Did you not meet her at Woldanhoe either?" she answered, "I am not a member of Woldanhoe."

She further rebutted, "I am not a member of Woldanhoe, nor have I ever gone there together. It definitely was not the same day that I viewed the exhibition with her," she said.

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