Risk Management Response Demands Continue
Criticism from Kim Kyung-yul, Ha Tae-kyung, and Lee Soo-jung
There is growing opinion within the ruling party that First Lady Kim Geon-hee should directly apologize for the suspicion of possessing luxury handbags. This is interpreted as a call for 'risk management' in consideration of the worsening public opinion ahead of the April 10 general election. Voices are also emerging that President Yoon Seok-yeol should directly resolve this issue along with a public apology from the First Lady before it negatively affects the election.
On the 19th, Kim Kyung-yul, an emergency committee member of the People Power Party, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and agreed with People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung's claim the day before that First Lady Kim Geon-hee should apologize regarding the luxury bag controversy. He said, "I agree," and added, "It is something that requires all means and methods to seek forgiveness enough to turn the hearts of the people."
He continued, "The public demands a certain moral standard from each individual, and there are expectations regarding the status, role, and responsibilities of the First Lady," and pointed out, "This incident has broken that, and it is truly regrettable that a video showing a scene difficult for the public to endure has surfaced."
The day before, lawmaker Ha said at a National Assembly party meeting that when floor leader Yoon Jae-ok emphasized that the essence of the luxury possession suspicion was a political plot, "It is true that it is a plot and a trap, but it should not end there. Just because it is a plot, does that mean everything can be accepted? Since the public views it negatively, it is natural for (the First Lady) to bow her head."
Professor Lee Soo-jung of Kyonggi University, who is running in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province in this general election, also said in several interviews earlier, "If the First Lady explains the circumstances, returns the gift to the giver if it is still preserved, and apologizes to the public, wouldn't that be an easier way to resolve this?" and added, "Personally, if it were me, I would do so."
Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee chairman, also showed a different reaction from before when he avoided giving a direct answer to calls within the party for the First Lady to apologize. After a low birthrate countermeasure pledge announcement event the day before, Chairman Han told reporters, "Regarding that issue, it is basically a trap hidden camera (illegal filming video) and was planned from the beginning," but added, "There are regrettable points in the before and after process, and I think there were parts that the public could be concerned about."
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