Did Kwon Sung Dong Notice Kim Hye Kyung's 90-Degree Bow?

After Shaking Hands with President Lee at the Inauguration, Kwon Keeps His Hands Behind His Back
Looks Straight Ahead Even When First Lady Kim Hye Kyung Greets Him

The behavior of Kwon Sung Dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, at the inauguration ceremony of President Lee Jae Myung, who was elected as the 21st president, has become a subject of controversy. Kwon was seen not responding to the greeting of First Lady Kim Hye Kyung, the president's spouse, and refraining from clapping with a stern expression.

At 11 a.m. on the 4th, President Lee entered the National Assembly with his wife, Kim, and took the oath of office in accordance with Article 69 of the Constitution. The ceremony was held in a simplified manner without any additional events, and was attended by about 300 people, including Woo Won Shik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the heads of the five branches of government, party leaders, members of the National Assembly, and cabinet ministers.

Once President Lee completed the oath of office, the attendees all stood up and applauded. However, among the guests giving a standing ovation, Kwon Sung Dong and Kim Yong Tae, a member of the People Power Party's emergency response committee, remained seated and stared straight ahead. They did not clap. Kwon only stood up with a stern expression when President Lee and his wife came down from the stage to greet the guests.

On the 4th, at President Lee Jae Myung's inauguration ceremony, a scene was captured where Kwon Sung Dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, appeared to ignore the greeting of First Lady Kim Hye Kyung. JTBC News footage

President Lee approached Kwon Sung Dong with a broad smile and extended his hand for a handshake first. Kwon, with a somewhat somber expression, shook hands with President Lee but immediately withdrew his hand and clasped his hands behind his back. Kim Hye Kyung, who was standing behind President Lee, bowed deeply?almost 90 degrees?with her hands together in front of her, but Kwon, maintaining a stern expression and his hands behind his back, only looked at her and turned his head away without returning the gesture. This scene was captured by live broadcast cameras and quickly spread, sparking controversy. However, it remains unconfirmed whether Kwon intentionally ignored the First Lady's greeting.

Meanwhile, President Lee and Kwon Sung Dong are alumni of the law department at Chung-Ang University and have a history of preparing for the bar exam together. Kwon entered in 1980, and Lee in 1982. Kwon passed the 27th bar exam, while Lee passed the 28th. On December 18 of last year, after the 12·3 Martial Law, President Lee met with Kwon to resolve the political situation and remarked, "I even called you yesterday. You are my senior from university, and we used to study for the bar exam together, using adjacent rooms," drawing attention at the time.