First Lady makes series of solo and public appearances despite public outcry

First Lady Kim Keon-hee is on a patrol with police officers from Yonggang Police Substation at Mapo Bridge in Seoul on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day on the September 10. Courtesy of the Presidential Office

First Lady Kim Keon-hee came to the forefront by making a series of solo and public appearances despite the opposition’s pressure for a special counsel investigation into her alleged involvement in state affairs and nomination for the general election. Although the opposition put pressure on President Yoon Suk-yeol by mentioning the expression “anti-state forces,” which he used before, Yoon brought up a new expression of “anti-Korean forces.” It is interpreted as the presidential office expressing its will not to back down despite the negative public sentiment and the opposition’s pressure.

On the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, Kim visited the offices of 119 Special Rescue Service’s Ttukseom Water Rescue Team and Han River Police’s Mangwon Security Center, and Yonggang Police Substation in Seoul. The first lady visited the offices with snacks and encouraged rescuers and police officers.

Her behavior is reminiscent of a ruler. “I will always listen to the voices of those on the scene who know the problems best,” Kim said. After inspecting the Mapo Bridge with the police officers from Yonggang Police Substation, she said, “Some measures to prevent suicide, such as raising the height of railings, were taken, but when I looked around the site, I realized that there are still many insufficiencies.” She added, "I think further improvements are needed, such as installing structures, as in the case of the Hangang Bridge.” She sent a social message and even made policy proposals.

Recently, Kim's activities have expanded as the Anti-corruption and Civil Rights Commission and the National Prosecutors' Office cleared her of charges in the case of receiving a luxury bag, and the Prosecutors' Investigation Review Committee decided not to indict her. Earlier, on September 3, Kim celebrated her birthday by inviting U.S. senators and their wives to dinner at Sangchunjae in Cheong Wa Dae. Kim is also expected to reappear in a Chuseok greeting video with President Yoon.

Kim did not appear at the New Year's Day in February. At that time, she was under fire for receiving a luxury bag.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is stepping up pressure on Kim as the Judicial Affairs and Justice Committee tabled a bill mandating a special counsel investigation, which added a suspicion of Kim's involvement in the nomination of the April 10 general election.

Park Ji-won of the DPK criticized in an interpellation session on the 9th, saying, “The people say 'President Kim Keon-hee' and 'First Gentleman Yoon Suk-yeol’ and also say Kim Keon-hee is the No.1 person in power." Nevertheless, Kim's decision to come to the forefront of state affairs is interpreted as a sign that she will not care about the opposition’s criticism.

The same applies to Yoon. The previous day, Yoon attended a meeting of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council and said, “There are forces in some parts of our society that are against the country,” adding, “We must stand united and protect the future of the country with the power of freedom.” The president used the term “anti-state forces” in his August 15 National Liberation Day congratulatory speech, and the opposition parties are even raising the possibility of martial law based on this. Then Yoon brought up a new expression of "anti-Korean forces."

In a poll conducted by Gallup Korea in the first week of September, Yoon's approval rating for state administration plummeted to 23 percent. His image of arrogance and a lack of communication coupled with the medical disruption, , has deepened public dissent. Nevertheless, Yoon and Kim's actions suggest that they do not care about public opinion. This can be interpreted as they stop making efforts to increase the approval rating and unite hard-line supporters to maintain the minimum approval rating.

"If you look at the situation where former President Park Geun-hye was impeached, her approval rating has dropped sharply as she acknowledged the opposition's offensive and her supporters turned their back on her," a ruling party official said in a phone interview on the 11th. "I think (Yoon) thought that he can continue to manage the state even if he doesn't get a high approval rating.”

An official from the ruling People's Power Party said in a phone interview, "We will catch our supporters first in the absence of elections for the time being."

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