South Korean President Apologizes To The Public Regarding The Controversy Involving The First Lady

President Yoon Suk-yeol with First Lady Kim Keon-hee. (Wikimedia Commons/KOCIS/Kim Sunjoo)

JAKARTA - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol apologized to the public on Thursday for a series of controversies involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee.

In a televised press conference, President Yoon acknowledged his wife's carelessness had raised public concerns.

He then stood up and bowed deeply, the first apology he delivered during his tenure.

The apology comes amid growing accusations, including the presidential pair's interference in the election for a ruling party candidate in the interim elections of 2022, their suspicious relationship with a political broker, Kim's involvement in the case of stock manipulation and luxury bag reception by Kim as a reward, quoted from The Korea Times November 8.

"I have raised public concerns and concerns over issues relating to those around me," he said, starting a news conference.

"The president's role is not to find excuses; that responsibility lies with me, and it comes from my shortcomings. I sincerely apologize and express my deepest regret."

He called his wife's actions "unwise" and promised to minimize her external activities and roles.

"Considering the current public sentiment completely, even though the citizens' public activities have been minimized, these activities will now be fully suspended unless it is deemed important by me and the president's adviser to diplomatic protocols or national interests," President Yoon said.

He further explained that his external activities will now be supervised by a newly established office dedicated to his role, which was officially launched that day.

Despite acknowledging some of the first lady's actions were unwise, the president defended her, stating her depiction had been "set aside" excessively and some accusations against her were "exaggerated and even fabricated."

The president also said he would appoint special inspector generals in charge of overseeing violations committed by people close to the president, such as family members or those with special ties to the president if the National Assembly recommended a candidate for the position.

Despite apologizing, the president has firmly opposed the draft law proposed by the main Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) opposition to special advisers to investigate allegations involving the first lady, calling it "unconstitutional" and "political motivated."

Regarding Kim's accusations of interfering in state affairs, President Yoon said, "If they mention the actions of a first lady who helps the president and advises the smooth running of the country as a'mixed-off,' then we should make a new definition of interference in the dictionary."

Regarding the draft special investigative law, President Yoon also mentioned "double punishment" a legal principle that protects individuals from being tried or punished more than once for the same violation.

"For more than two years, hundreds of investigators assigned during the previous administration, interrogated a large number of people, all of whom hope to involve my wife and find charges to prosecute her. But, in the end, they can't charge her, can they?" President Yoon noted, adding that the opposition's move to investigate was no longer a legal action, but political propaganda.

Regarding allegations of election interference involving Myung Tae-Kyun, a political broker who proclaimed himself the president categorically denied the allegations, stressing "nothing inappropriate or hidden."

The allegations include communications between the first lady and Myung to disrupt the nomination of candidates in the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) ahead of the 2022 interim elections, as well as a statement by the first lady asking Myung for help in conducting a public opinion survey supporting President Yoon ahead of the preliminary election of the party before the 2022 presidential election.

"I have never asked Myung Tae-Kyun to conduct a survey of public opinion. During the election, I often received information from political figures from our party, including Myung, about the results of surveys that have been released or will be announced. I have no reason to manipulate this survey, and because the results benefit me, there is no need to change it. Even if the results are unfavorable, I have never manipulated a survey in my life, "explained President Yoon.

Regarding his communication with Myung, who was confirmed by the recorded conversation between the two, the president stressed that he only expressed his minimal gratitude to Myung after being elected, for his role in the early stages of his political career, where Myung, like hundreds of other political experts, gave some advice.

He added that his wife and Myung "only communicated regularly," and after his inauguration, both he and his wife should have changed their phone numbers to dispel suspicion, but he admitted to making a mistake by not doing so.

Regarding the allegations that he will influence party candidacy in 2022, he emphasized that it is impossible to be involved, because all matters relating to nominations are under the authority of the party nomination committee.

Finally, the president promised to make a reshuffle in his government to convince the public of his transformation, and promised to do his best until the end of his term of office in May 2027.