"Resident Who Gave a Bouquet to the Yoon Couple Returning Home Was the Mother of the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office"

JTBC: "Resident Who Gave Bouquet Is Kim Tae-hyo's Mother"
Reported as Auditor of the Residents' Representatives... Banner Also Sparks Controversy
Mother Says, "I Did It at the President's Request"; Kim States, "No Personal Relationship"

On the day former President Yoon Seok-yeol returned to his residence at Acrovista in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, it was claimed that the resident who handed him a bouquet was the mother of Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director of the National Security Office. On the 17th, JTBC reported, "The woman who handed the bouquet to former President Yoon and his wife when they entered the Acrovista residence in Seocho-gu on the 11th was confirmed to be Bae, the mother of Deputy Director Kim." Kim is considered a key figure in the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's diplomacy.

On the day former President Yoon Seok-yeol returned to his residence in Seocho-dong, a resident who handed him a bouquet was reported to be the mother of Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office. Yonhap News Agency

At the time, when former President Yoon and his wife arrived at their residence, residents were seen hanging welcome banners and handing over bouquets, attracting attention. At the entrance of the residence, a banner reading "Thank you to the President and First Lady for your hard work. From all representatives of the 12th batch residents" was also hung, which was reportedly prepared by the apartment representatives group, where Ms. Bae serves as an executive. She is said to be the auditor of the 12th batch representatives group.

However, it was revealed that the banner was hung without the consent of the residents or even the 12th batch representatives. According to JTBC, the residents' bulletin board was flooded with protest posts demanding the removal of the banner, stating, "Remove the banner that was unilaterally hung without consulting the residents." One of the 12th batch representatives told JTBC, "I protested as soon as I saw the banner. It was carried out by the 12th batch representatives' president Jeong and auditor Bae."

Eventually, due to residents' opposition, the banner was taken down in less than a day. Regarding this, Ms. Bae told JTBC, "The president of the 12th batch representatives prepared the banner and bouquet, and I only agreed to deliver the flowers upon request." Deputy Director Kim said, "I have nothing to say as I have not heard from my mother," and added, "My mother has no personal relationship with former President Yoon."

Deputy Director Kim maintained his position even as the National Security Office chief was replaced three times, earning a reputation as a key figure in the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's diplomacy. He is suspected of having told the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea the morning after the December 3 emergency martial law, "The declaration of martial law was inevitable to eradicate anti-state forces." Also, according to data submitted by mobile carriers to the office of Assemblywoman Hwang Jeong-ah of the Democratic Party, Kim changed his mobile phone three times over approximately 25 hours from 10 a.m. on December 12 last year to 11:20 a.m. the next day.

Meanwhile, a week has passed since former President Yoon and his wife returned to their residence, but no movement of them going outside the complex has been observed. Former President Yoon was seen once taking a walk in the Acrovista underground shopping mall and has traveled for a criminal trial. Currently, a notice is posted on the first-floor entrance door of the Acrovista shopping mall stating, "To control the influx of outsiders for building security, the entrance closing time has been changed to 5 p.m. We ask for your understanding."