Kim Keon Hee spotted in Busan as office to manage first lady’s activities in works

First lady Kim Keon Hee undertook unofficial visits to a food research center and a market in Busan on Tuesday as part of what political observers believe is her gradual return to public life after months of controversy over her conduct.

First lady Kim Keon Hee, left, is seen talking to a vendor at a traditional market in Bupyeong District, Busan, while shopping for groceries on Tuesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

First lady Kim Keon Hee undertook unofficial visits to a food research center and a market in Busan on Tuesday as part of what political observers believe is her gradual return to public life after months of controversy over her conduct.

Kim’s visits took place on the second day of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s vacation, which his office said would involve trips to locations outside of Seoul.

According to unnamed officials who spoke to the JoongAng Ilbo, Kim made her first stop at an institute that specializes in developing food products that use myeongran, or Korean salted cod roe.

In her comments to the institute’s staff, Kim expressed hope that their efforts would “make it widely known that myeongran originated in Busan” and boost the city’s profile.

Kim then visited a traditional market in Busan’s Bupyeong District, where she took photos with shopkeepers and bought garlic and jujube.

The first lady’s visit to the market was not disclosed in advance to the media and her entourage was limited in number to minimize disruptions to commercial activity, according to the presidential office.

While Kim has been photographed next to the president at diplomatic functions in Korea and abroad in recent months, she has otherwise rarely appeared in public since controversy erupted in January over a video that showed her accepting a $2,200 Dior handbag from Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young.

That episode, which further damaged the president’s already dismal public approval ratings, also prompted calls for the presidential office to improve its supervision of Kim’s affairs.

The presidential office said on July 30 that it would reestablish an office dedicated to managing the first lady’s public activities and contacts, effectively reversing an earlier decision at the start of Yoon’s administration to abolish the office of the personal secretary to the first lady.

Yoon pledged to scrap the office during his election campaign, during which Kim attracted scrutiny over her alleged involvement in a stock market manipulation scheme, past exchanges with a spiritual guru and résumé falsification.

Yoon’s promise was interpreted by observers as a signal that his wife would assume a lower public profile if he were elected.

Local media have reported that Jang Sun-chil, who is currently serving as the secretary to the president for civil and social agenda, is likely to lead the revived office.

The presidential office said that the reestablishment of the first lady’s office does not change Yoon’s willingness to appoint a special inspector to conduct oversight of potential cases of corruption involving the president’s family and aides.

Although the position was established in 2014 under then-President Park Geun-hye, it has remained vacant since 2016.

Yoon has said he would be willing to fill the position if the National Assembly recommends a candidate.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]