Kazakh Media Deletes Report Focusing on Mrs. Kim's Appearance

Revealing Past Photos with Focus on Appearance
Opposition Also Calls It "Disrespectful to the Presidential Couple"

Kazakhstani media have faced severe criticism for focusing on First Lady Kim Geon-hee's appearance and raising suspicions of plastic surgery.

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, attending the official welcoming ceremony held at the Astana Presidential Palace on the 12th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 12th (local time), Kazakhstani media Azattyq R?hy reported that President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife visited the Kazakh presidential palace, stating, "Kazakh officials admired Mrs. Kim's beauty." They also referred to her as the "Doll lady."

The outlet reported, "The 51-year-old First Lady looks much younger than her age. She gained popularity for the outfits she wore at official events, and she even has an online fan club." They further claimed, "It is no secret that the youthful appearance of the First Lady is the result of plastic surgery." Additionally, they displayed three photos of Mrs. Kim side by side by age group, saying, "There are childhood photos of Kim Geon-hee. The differences (compared to now) are clear." They added, "People from all over the world are flocking to Korea to change their faces."

President Yoon Suk-yeol Completes State Visit to Kazakhstan
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

In the political sphere, there have been displeased reactions regarding the report's focus on Mrs. Kim's appearance. Even the opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed opposition, calling it disrespectful to the host country during a diplomatic visit.

Seo Young-kyo, a senior member of the party, stated, "The presidential couple visited Kazakhstan, but the media reported humiliating content," and criticized, "It was a disregard for President Yoon Suk-yeol and Mrs. Kim Geon-hee." She added, "It's hard to even talk about it. While it is appreciated that the media covered the visit, the content is not something to be thankful for." She also said, "I made a placard related to the article today, but I heard that Kazakhstani media removed the photos, so I will not hold it. It seems they put pressure on the media," speculating on the situation.

On the same day, the media outlet deleted the photos of Mrs. Kim's past and removed the parts raising plastic surgery suspicions.

The presidential couple visited Samarkand on the day, concluding their Central Asian tour of three countries?Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan?that began on the 10th, and headed back home.