Cambodian Ambassador "Kim Geon-hee, Very Grateful for Support to Sick Children"… On Opposition Criticism, "Excessive Politicization"

Jirung, Cambodian Ambassador to Korea, Media Interview
Ambassador: "Cambodia Values Mrs. Kim's Kindness Very Much"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Chhirung Botum Rangsay, the Cambodian Ambassador to Korea, expressed gratitude for First Lady Kim Keon-hee's visit to a local hospital in Cambodia and her meeting with children with heart disease during President Yoon Seok-yeol's Southeast Asia tour, saying, "We are very thankful for the support given to children with physical disabilities."

Regarding opposition parties' criticism that Kim did not participate in the spouse program organized by Cambodia and instead conducted a photo shoot imitating Audrey Hepburn while visiting children with heart disease, he called it "excessive politicization."

In a video interview with The Korea Times released on the 24th, Ambassador Chhirung emphasized, "Attending the spouse program, which offers an opportunity to experience Cambodian culture, is not mandatory."

First Lady Kim accompanied President Yoon, who departed for Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the 11th to attend the ASEAN-related summit, and visited Hebron Medical Center and Andoung Hospital, symbolizing Korea-Cambodia health cooperation, to discuss support measures. On the following day, the 12th, she did not participate in the spouse program prepared by the Cambodian side to visit a 14-year-old child suffering from congenital heart disease.

She changed her schedule after hearing that the child wanted to meet her during her visit to Hebron Medical Center but could not come.

Because of this, opposition parties criticized her actions, saying that the spouse programs of heads of state are also part of diplomacy.

In particular, after the presidential office released photos of the First Lady with the child, a controversy arose domestically, mainly among opposition parties, accusing her of imitating Audrey Hepburn. This refers to Hepburn holding a malnourished child at a UNICEF feeding center in Baidoa, Somalia, in 1992, one year before her death.

Ambassador Chhirung said, "From my perspective, since this was the First Lady's first visit to Cambodia, I felt that she truly wanted to see Cambodia and learn about its culture," adding, "Visiting the children's hospital seemed to be a personally meaningful and important matter for her."

He continued, "We are very grateful for the First Lady's support for children with physical disabilities," and said, "We cherish Kim's kindness."

Ambassador Chhirung also mentioned that Mrs. Rani, wife of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, is interested in and supports volunteer activities for good causes. He expressed his gratitude again, saying, "We are very thankful for the kindness of (First Lady Kim) who took time during the tour to motivate and support the children."