[President Yoon's Inauguration] First Lady Appears in White Dress at First Official Event

First Lady Kim Geon-hee, the First Born in the 1970s and Working First Lady
Public Appearances Expected Starting from Inauguration Ceremony
Active Engagement Uncertain Due to Various Allegations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Keon-hee, the spouse of President Yoon Suk-yeol, made her first official appearance by attending the inauguration ceremony of the 20th president on the 10th. Around 9:50 a.m., Kim appeared with President Yoon at their residence in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, before getting into the presidential official protocol vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Before boarding the vehicle, Kim greeted nearby residents.

For her first schedule, Kim paid respects alongside President Yoon at the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Around 11 a.m., dressed in a white one-piece dress, she attended the presidential inauguration ceremony, walking about 180 meters from the main gate of the National Assembly while shaking hands and taking photos with citizens.

Since President Yoon’s election, Kim had only participated in private schedules. On the 3rd, she visited Guinsa Temple in Danyang, Chungbuk, where she met with monks, and on the 26th of last month, she quietly visited Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, marking a quiet religious engagement. In addition, Kim has increased her external activities by attending art museum exhibitions and small-scale events supporting abandoned dogs. It is expected that she will begin more public appearances starting with the inauguration ceremony. As the first first-lady born in the 1970s and a president’s spouse with a profession, there is growing interest in whether she will establish a new model for first ladies.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, it remains uncertain whether she will take an active role. Due to controversies surrounding her, such as false resume allegations and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, many still view Kim’s public appearances during the presidential election period negatively, as she refrained from public activities throughout that time. Even immediately after President Yoon’s election, Kim’s side expressed their intention to provide quiet support. Therefore, it is expected that even after her public debut, she will focus on traditional first-lady roles, such as volunteering for underprivileged groups.

Meanwhile, attendees invited to the inauguration ceremony received commemorative items including a white mask emblazoned with the Taegeuk emblem of the inauguration, a sunshade that doubles as a fan, and bottled water. After showing pre-distributed admission cards and identification, they also received a necktie-style pass. Security measures such as baggage inspection and body searches were conducted at the entrance.