Public Appearances Every Weekend... Will First Lady Kim Geon-hee End Her 'Quiet Support'?

President Yoon Goes on Outings Every Weekend Since Inauguration, Private Schedule
Controversy Rekindled Over Broken Promise to Abolish 'Second Secretariat'
Poll Shows 60.6% Say "Kim Geon-hee Should Focus on Support"
Presidential Office States "Visits to Kwon Yang-sook Are Part of 'Quiet Support'"

First Lady Kim Keon-hee visited Bongha Village in Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam Province on the afternoon of the 13th, toured the 'Awakened Citizen Cultural Experience Exhibition Hall,' a memorial hall for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, and purchased souvenirs. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] First Lady Kim Geon-hee is gradually expanding the scope of her public appearances. On the 13th, she visited Kwon Yang-sook, the spouse of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, alone as an official schedule. She is also actively delivering political messages, such as expressing her thoughts on 'animal rights protection' through a media interview.

However, as First Lady Kim's public appearances increase, controversy over 'breaking campaign promises' seems to be reignited. Critics point out that her announcement to focus on 'quiet support' immediately after President Yoon's election and President Yoon's campaign promise to abolish the 'Second Secretariat,' which handles the First Lady's protocol, are practically being nullified.

First Lady Kim, who had previously avoided public activities, began making public appearances starting from the inauguration of President Yoon on the 10th of last month. She appeared for the first time at an official event by attending President Yoon's inauguration ceremony. Her second official schedule was attending the 67th Memorial Day ceremony held at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu on the 6th. On the 13th, she visited Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, to pay a visit to Kwon Yang-sook.

First Lady Kim's unofficial schedules were also frequently exposed. On the first weekend after President Yoon's inauguration, the 14th of last month, she accompanied President Yoon shopping for shoes at a department store in Seoul. On the second weekend, the 22nd of the same month, she made a surprise appearance at an open concert held in the main garden of the Blue House. On the 28th of the same month, she visited the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu with her pet dog. At that time, photos taken inside the Presidential Office were released through First Lady Kim's personal fan club, sparking controversy over 'photo leaks.'

On the 12th of this month, she visited the Megabox Seongsu branch in Seongdong-gu with President Yoon to watch the Cannes Film Festival award-winning movie 'Broker.' On the weekend of the previous week, the 5th, she planned to participate in a volunteer activity to pick up trash along the Han River in observance of 'World Environment Day,' but canceled due to North Korea's missile provocations. Except for this, she has practically made public appearances every weekend since President Yoon's inauguration.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and the First Lady visited a movie theater in downtown Seoul on the afternoon of the 12th to watch the film "Broker." Photo by Yonhap News

Criticism has arisen that First Lady Kim's frequent public appearances differ from her earlier statement that she would provide 'quiet support.' During the last presidential election, First Lady Kim, who was embroiled in allegations of false credentials, said in a public apology, "Even if my husband becomes president, I will focus only on my role as a wife." President Yoon also pledged to abolish the Second Secretariat, which handles the First Lady's protocol, and implemented this after his inauguration.

However, recently, the Presidential Office indicated it would support official schedules by preparing a reception room on the 5th floor of the building for First Lady Kim's use. Although it is not called the Second Secretariat, the protocol functions for the First Lady are maintained, leading to criticism that this is effectively a broken campaign promise.

Public opinion regarding First Lady Kim's public appearances is not favorable. According to a survey conducted by Next Research on 1,010 people commissioned by SBS on the 8th and 9th (margin of error ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level; for details, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website), 60.6% of respondents said that First Lady Kim "should focus on supporting President Yoon." Only 31.1% responded that "it is better for her to engage in public activities."

On the 13th, the Presidential Office stated to the media regarding First Lady Kim's recent activities, including her visit to Kwon Yang-sook, that "it seems to fall under quiet support."