"Addressing Issues of Marginalized Groups"
Yoon Seok-yeol, the president-elect, spouse Kim Geon-hee is removing her mask for identity verification at the early voting station set up at Seocho 1-dong Community Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 4th. /Photo by Asia Economy
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] It was recently revealed that Kim Geon-hee, the spouse of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, delivered a handwritten letter to 'Donghaeng-ui Him,' a group composed of spouses of People Power Party politicians, during the election campaign period.
In the letter, Kim reportedly mentioned, "Living as the wife of a politician requires sacrifice. I send you my respect. I will also follow and learn well." Notably, she referred to forum members who had become political families earlier as "sunbaenim" (senior members).
An official who received Kim's letter said, "I remember it as a letter written in neat handwriting, containing a very humble heart."
The letter was reportedly delivered as an image file to forum members by People Power Party lawmaker Yang Geum-hee, who leads the 'Donghaeng-ui Him' group, after receiving the handwritten letter through the candidate's secretariat at the time.
Meanwhile, on the same day (the 10th), Kim released a message through the campaign headquarters stating, "I will humbly assist from the side so that the president-elect can faithfully fulfill the mission entrusted by the people." This is interpreted as her intention to focus on quiet support rather than public activities in the future.
Regarding the 'role of the presidential spouse after the election,' Kim said, "I believe the top priority of the presidential spouse is to create an environment where the president can concentrate on state affairs," adding, "If circumstances allow, I will also consider the issues of marginalized groups or those living in the shadows of growth that the government’s reach has not yet touched."
Kim, who did not appear in official election campaigns during Yoon’s candidacy period, also did not show up at the moment his victory was confirmed the previous day. President-elect Yoon pledged during the campaign to abolish the Blue House’s Second Spouse Office that supports the First Lady and stated that he would not use the title 'First Lady.'
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