Ruling party and presidential office must respond to allegations against first lady[Editorial]

From left, candidates for the People\'s Power Party leader election Won Hee-ryong, Na Kyung-won, Han Dong-hoon and Yoon Sang-hyun talk at a debate held at CBS headquarters in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on July 17. Provided by the National Assembly

The ruling People's Power Party (PPP)’s candidates for the party leader election called on prosecutors to thoroughly investigate First Lady Kim Keon-hee's alleged acceptance of a luxury bag on July 17. At the fourth debate hosted by CBS Radio, candidates Na Kyung-won, Yoon Sang-hyun, Won Hee-ryong, and Han Dong-hoon all agreed to the prosecution's investigation of Kim, emphasizing the need to uncover the truth. They also agreed on Kim's direct apology and the establishment of an Office of the First Lady, regardless of factions within the party. This is a big change from last January, when Han, who was the interim party leader, called for an apology from Kim, citing “the public’s eye level,” and the pro-Yoon Suk-yeol faction blocked it, saying it was “essentially an unfair political maneuver.” It is regrettable that the need for controlling the first lady was raised only after the public sentiment became so serious.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the ruling party's entire national convention has been covered by the issue of the first lady. With the disclosure of Kim's text messages, it turned into a competition between "President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife vs. Han Dong-hoon." Suspicions of Kim's comment team also emerged, and the revelation that she sent frequent texts to the ruling party leader deepened the suspicion of Kim's interference in party affairs and state affairs, which had only been rumored and suspected. Under such circumstances, public opinion of the party convention paradoxically converged on “controlling Kim.” The unified voice of the candidates may have expressed concern that they could be in an unaffordable situation if they do not rush to settle the various suspicions, such as Kim’s intervention in state affairs. However, it is pathetic to see the presidential office only increasing public anger by changing the officials taking charge of the first lady's investigation and cutting the tail, saying she “ordered the return of the luxury bag” seven months later.

The presidential office should put Kim back in her place even now. It is not a matter of apologizing by just saying, "My wife's unwise behavior.”

The President and his wife should apologize directly and sincerely for all the allegations and inappropriate behaviors, and the presidential office should urgently establish an Office of the First Lady to officially monitor, manage, and support Kim. The prosecutor's office should also stop walking on eggshells and start investigating the first lady. The presidential office should not repeat the mistake of losing the cow and even not mending the barn.

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.