Kim Geon-hee Holds Tea Meeting with Zainichi Korean Wives Association... Active Moves Ahead of Year-End

Public Schedule in Seoul Following Cheongju, Jeju, and Gwangju
Messages on Animal Protection, Arts and Culture, and the Korean Diaspora Also Presented

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, met with executives of the Korean Residents Union in Japan, an organization for Koreans living in Japan, on the 11th and stated, "We will support our compatriots, including those in Japan, so that they can carry out their activities with greater pride and dignity."

Starting with a visit to Cheongju, Chungbuk on the 5th, Kim has been making extensive nationwide visits, meeting with figures from various fields in Jeju, Gwangju, and Seoul on this day.

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, is taking a commemorative photo with attendees after a tea meeting hosted by the Korean Residents Union in Japan at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the afternoon of the same day, Kim invited the Korean Residents Union in Japan to the Yongsan Presidential Office and held a tea meeting. Established in 1949, the Korean Residents Union in Japan is an organization composed of Korean women residing in Japan, with a central headquarters and 44 regional branches, totaling about 100,000 members.

Kim said, "As a daughter of the Republic of Korea and as a mother of Korea, you are working hard for our diaspora community and exchanges between Korea and Japan," and expressed her gratitude, saying, "It is especially meaningful to host you today in the spirit of renewing Korea-Japan relations."

She also said, "Korea and Japan have historically competed and cooperated with each other while growing," and urged, "Please continue to take an interest so that the two countries can strengthen cooperation and have greater influence in the international community."

As the year-end approaches, Kim is showing nationwide activities while also delivering social messages. On the 5th, she visited Cheongju Zoo in Cheongju, Chungbuk, and urged, "I hope the children who visit here will see and feel the results of Cheongju Zoo's efforts and form a consensus on animal welfare and respect for animals."

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, visited Gwangchigi Beach in Seogwipo City, Jeju, on the 6th to participate in a companion beach cleanup activity. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The next day, on the 6th, she visited Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, where she held discussions with haenyeo (female divers) fishermen and participated in beach cleanup activities. She also visited the Jeju Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and met with experts and civic groups involved in research to preserve endangered marine protected species such as the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin and sea turtles.

The day before, she met with planners and organizers at the Gwangju Design Biennale event and expressed her commitment to fostering the Korean cultural and artistic community and promoting cultural and artistic cooperation with foreign and local governments. Kim urged, "Gwangju must establish its status as a leading cultural city and play its role at the center so that all regions can learn from Gwangju's example."

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