««NoDon’t call me First Lady». These are the words spoken in May last year by Kim Keon-heeat the announcement of the presidency of her husband Yoon Suk-yeol. «I prefer that you only refer to me as the wife of the president of South Korea». A request that speaks volumes about the character of a woman who is making Americans fall in love with her on an official visit to the United States these days. Even if, in the many photos taken next to Jill Biden, Kim Keon-hee ended up completely dominating her.
Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee with husband Yoon Suk-yeol (right) and US President Joe Biden in Washington, April 27, 2023 (Getty Images)
Kim Keon-hee, the new Jackie Kennedy of South Korea
The American newspapers speak of “magnetic smiles”, of “a dignified elegance of a model of other times”, and of a “mysterious air” that makes Kim Keon-hee a woman difficult to interpret. In short a new Jackie Kennedy, added the US commentators who are following his every step these days. And they went wild to find out more about this new Korean icon who, despite her age, wouldn’t look out of place among Blackpink or other K-Pop girl groups.
The president’s wife is also a genius in finance
A woman of few words, and always one step behind her husband, Kim Keon-hee – who turned 50 last September – is a businesswoman and cultural promoter of a certain respect that she had made a name for herself in the art-related business world even before marrying, in 2012, Yoon Suk-yeol, the current 13th president of South Korea. A graduate in art studies, in 2009 she founded Covana Contents, a Korean company specialized in setting up exhibitions.
Kim Keon-hee and Jill Biden together in the White House, April 26, 2023 (Getty Images)
The scandals that have damaged Kim’s “clean” image
Suspicions of tax evasion still not clarified, allegations of corruption never proven, and a curriculum vitae with some perhaps exaggerated information: to avoid embarrassing her husband, Kim Keon-hee was forced to apologize publicly two years ago, with the promise of concentrate from then on only on his official role as wife of the future Korean presidentsetting aside any personal financial interests.
Kim Keon-hee and the memory of Lady D.
In the United States, Kim Keon-hee was at the side of her husband and, at the state dinner organized at the White House, chatted for a long time with Angelina Jolie. She visited an exhibition with Jill Biden but also participated alone in cultural and humanitarian events, such as the meeting with some North Korean deserters who managed to emigrate to the USA. And the sympathetic way she listened to their sad stories prompted another comparison. The one with Princess Diana.
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