[Exclusive] Mrs. Kim Geon-hee Says "I Will Hear the Voice Directly"... Meets Single-Parent Families

Minister Kim Hyun-sook of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Joins, Likely to Continue Efforts to Support the Vulnerable

First Lady Kim Keon-hee visited the Saemaeul Movement Busanjin-gu Branch in Busanjin-gu, Busan, on the 8th, where she packaged daily necessities to be delivered to the jjokbangchon (small-room village) together with university student volunteers, and then delivered them to the jjokbangchon. 2022.12.8 [Provided by the Presidential Office, resale and DB prohibited] [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Gimin Lee] First Lady Kim Geon-hee personally met with single-parent families on the 20th to listen to their difficulties. Known for her interest in accompanying the underprivileged, First Lady Kim took the opportunity during the year-end and New Year season to meet with single-parent families and exchange opinions.

According to political circles, First Lady Kim attended a luncheon with single-parent individuals at a location in Yeouido in the afternoon. It was reported that Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, who oversees single-parent families, was also present at the event.

A ruling party official said, "We heard that the First Lady had a strong will to meet single-parent families directly," adding, "The reason why representatives from associations or councils did not join is to hear the voices of the individuals themselves directly."

President Yoon Seok-yeol held a meeting with marginalized and vulnerable families at the Guro-gu Family Center in Seoul on August 30 and announced plans to expand child-rearing support for single-parent families. The budget proposal for next year includes an expansion of child-rearing support for single-parent families. The current support, which provides 200,000 KRW monthly to single-parent families with income below 52% of the median income, will expand the eligibility to those below 60% of the median income. Additionally, for 'youth single-parent' families who have been receiving 350,000 KRW monthly, the eligibility criteria for child-rearing support will be extended from below 60% to below 65% of the median income.

First Lady Kim Keon-hee visited Mongsil Coffee in Geumjeong-gu, Busan on the 8th, engaged in conversations with young entrepreneurs preparing for independence, and took a commemorative photo. This cafe was founded by young people who grew up in child care facilities, and these youths are helping other young people preparing for independence. 2022.12.8 [Provided by the Presidential Office, resale and database prohibited] [Image source=Yonhap News]

First Lady Kim has continued her efforts to care for marginalized groups and the underprivileged, and this is expected to continue.

Last month, during President Yoon’s Southeast Asia tour, First Lady Kim visited the Hebron Medical Center and Anduon Hospital in Cambodia, both established by Koreans, to discuss medical support measures. She also visited the home of Rota, a 14-year-old boy with a heart condition, to encourage him. When Rota was scheduled for a reoperation in Korea earlier this month, she sent a video message to cheer him on.

Recently, First Lady Kim attended a volunteer activity organized by the Saemaul Undong Central Association, delivering daily necessities to elderly residents living in the Busan jjokbangchon (small room village) alongside the MZ generation. Just before this volunteer work, she visited ‘Mongsil Coffee’ in Geumjeong-gu, Busan, a startup founded by young adults who grew up in child care facilities, to offer encouragement. It is also reported that she plans to attend an event related to abandoned dogs later this month.

Another ruling party official said, “There are areas within the system that are difficult to pay attention to unless looked at once more, especially places where protection systems are hard to establish without raising voices. The First Lady intends to personally visit and take care of these areas,” adding, “Her efforts like these will continue going forward.”