Kim Geon-hee Starts SNS Communication... Will She Show the Model of the 'New First Lady'?

First Lady Kim Geon-hee Switches to Public SNS Account
Messages on Environment and Animal Protection Follow
Yoon Hints at Abolishing Second Secretariat After Inauguration
Independent Actions Instead of Assisting Presidential Duties
Will She Show a 'Working First Lady' Model?

Yoon Suk-yeol, the president-elect's wife, Kim Keon-hee, holding a police special forces bomb detection dog in front of their residence in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kim Gunhee, the wife of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, has resumed her personal social media service (SNS) activities. This SNS account, where Kim has begun posting messages on various topics such as the environment and animal rights, was created when she was serving as the CEO of a private company. Previously, Kim’s side mentioned their intention to create a 'new first lady model' who maintains her own career and establishes an independent domain, rather than just assisting her husband as the first lady.

◆Kim Gunhee starts sending messages on environment and animal protection via SNS

On the 4th, Kim switched her personal Instagram account to public and has since posted several posts. On the 8th, she uploaded a photo of a handwritten 'certificate.' The certificate was awarded under the name 'Kobana Contents CEO Kim Gunhee,' with the phrase, "This person has been a role model by saving paper cups and using a tumbler with a strong spirit of environmental protection." It is interpreted as a message emphasizing environmental protection such as reducing disposable products.

The next day, on the 9th, she shared a Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae) public petition post requesting punishment for an animal abuse perpetrator. The post concerns a cat abuse case that occurred last month in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, demanding strict legal action against the perpetrator. Kim said, "Many petitions related to animal abuse have been posted and I have shared them passionately with anger, but it is still an endless fight." The post also included hashtags such as 'environment,' 'animal protection,' and 'respect for life.'

Mrs. Kim's posts uploaded on her Instagram account on the 8th and 9th respectively / Photo by Kim Gun-hee, Instagram capture

Some critics argue that it is inappropriate for Kim to engage in 'official activities' without clarifying various suspicions surrounding her. Previously, on December 26 last year, Kim publicly apologized to the nation regarding the so-called 'false resume allegations,' stating, "There were mistakes while balancing work and studies."

Ko Yong-jin, senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, said in a written briefing on the 10th, "Kim Gunhee is recently voicing social opinions through SNS. It can only be seen as her attempting to engage in public activities as the spouse of the president-elect." He criticized, "Acting as if there are no suspicions is deceiving the public. If she intends to act as the president’s wife after Yoon’s inauguration, she must first resolve the suspicions surrounding her."

◆"The first lady is just a family member of the president"... Will a 'working first lady' model emerge?

The Instagram account where Kim has been posting messages was created when she was CEO of the entertainment company 'Kobana Contents.' According to the account information, she has posted nearly 680 posts since February 2015, including a photo of President Moon Jae-in from 2017.

Some speculate that Kim might be preparing in advance to take official steps as the first lady after Yoon’s inauguration.

Earlier, a representative from Kim’s side told 'No Cut News' on the 4th, "Kim is considering activities where she can independently demonstrate her abilities, separate from presidential duties." She may continue as CEO of Kobana Contents and operate the company in a form of 'talent donation' rather than profit-making activities.

If Kim focuses on a 'working woman' path separate from Yoon’s official duties, she could present a different image from past Korean first ladies. Traditionally, first ladies have focused on assisting their husbands in various domestic and international duties.

On December 11, 2000, then-President Kim Dae-jung and his wife Lee Hee-ho are seen holding hands and greeting citizens celebrating the Nobel Peace Prize award from the balcony of the Grand Hotel, their accommodation / Photo by Yonhap News

The late Lee Hee-ho, wife of former President Kim Dae-jung, is a representative example. As a democratization and women’s rights activist, Lee greatly helped establish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (formerly the Ministry of Women) after Kim’s administration began. Kim Yoon-ok, wife of former President Lee Myung-bak, actively managed projects as honorary chairperson of the government’s 'Globalization of Korean Food' policy promotion team.

President Moon’s wife, Kim Jung-sook, has demonstrated her capabilities by accompanying the president on overseas trips and promoting Korean culture and arts abroad.

Since first ladies’ activities have been closely linked to the president, the Blue House’s Second Office even has a support aide for the first lady. The role of the first lady has been inseparable from the president’s duties.

However, Kim is likely to pursue activities separate from her husband, unlike past first ladies. Previously, Yoon, then a candidate in the People Power Party primary, said in an interview with the Dong-A Ilbo at the end of last year, "The president’s wife is just a family member of the president. It is not right to institutionalize the first lady’s status outside the law," and announced plans to abolish the Second Office. This indicates the Yoon administration’s intention to reduce the official role of the first lady.

Experts say the 'working first lady' model is positive but caution that business activities should not burden Yoon’s state affairs.

Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "I think it is time for a first lady who independently pursues her own work regardless of the president in Korea," but pointed out, "(Kim) runs an exhibition planning company called Kobana Contents, which is a private company, so there could be issues such as allegations of preferential treatment."

He added, "It is important to focus on non-profit activities, such as only undertaking public projects that do not generate profit, to completely prevent such controversies."