| President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife Kim Kun-hee arrive at Madrid International Airport in Spain to attend the NATO summit on the afternoon of the 27th (local time) and disembark from Air Force Unit 1. (President’s Office Photo Correspondents) 2022.6.28/News 1 © News1 Correspondent Oh Dae-il |
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit is evaluated as an opportunity to reveal a clear presence as the first lady and the diplomatic debut of Kim Kun-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol.
Kim has been reluctant to contact the media face-to-face, but this time, she greeted directly with the Spanish business trip reporters and had a solo schedule in the fields of fashion and the environment, which she was usually interested in.
Attention is focused on whether Ms. Kim will take a more active step in Korea after ending the ‘quiet family’.
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| President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Kun-hee are having a conversation with reporters at Air Force Unit 1 heading to Madrid, Spain on the 27th (local time). President’s Office Photo Reporters Group 2022.6.28/News 1 © News1 Correspondent Oh Dae-il |
On the 27th (local time) of last month (local time), Mrs. Kim met reporters for the first time in Air Force Unit 1 heading to Madrid, Spain. She said that Kim did not answer questions such as ‘how are you flying?’ after she said “hello” to her reporters.
As soon as President Yoon was about to return to his seat, Mrs. Kim left a short “Thank you” and followed in President Yoon’s footsteps.
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| President Yoon Seok-yeol’s wife, Kim Kun-hee, visits the Korean Cultural Center in Spain on the afternoon of the 28th (local time) and looks around the K-fashion exhibition of designer Kim A-young while listening to explanations by Oh Ji-hoon (left) and Kim Sook-gyeom, executive officer. (President’s Office Photo Correspondents) 2022.6.2/News 1 © News1 Reporter Dae-il Oh |
On the 28th, the first day of NATO’s official schedule, Ms. Kim made her first public solo schedule by visiting the Korean Cultural Center in Spain. It is the first time that her official schedule has been announced in advance and the words and actions of Mrs. Kim at the site have been revealed to the media.
“Spain is very famous all over the world as the hometown of Velázquez and the birthplace of Picasso, one of the founders of modern art,” said Kim. It has been 11 years since the Cultural Center, but I think the efforts of these people have made it so popular,” he encouraged the employees.
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| President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Gun-hee attend a dinner hosted by King Felipe VI of Spain and his wife at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain on the 28th (local time). (Video capture of NATO Summit Secretariat) 2022.6.2/News1 © News1 Reporter Daeil Oh |
On the same night, I attended the welcome gala dinner hosted by King Felipe VI of Spain with President Yoon. At the dinner that day, Mrs. Kim built friendships with the heads of countries she attended and her spouses.
First Lady Kim smiled to Spanish Queen Leticia Ortis Rocasolano, saying, “In Korea, people of the same age naturally become close friends. We are the same age.”
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| President Yun Seok-yeol’s wife Kim Gun-hee and U.S. President Joe Biden’s wife Jill Biden pose for a commemorative photo during a dinner hosted by King Felipe VI and his wife at the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain on the afternoon of the 28th (local time). (Provided by the President’s Office) 2022.6.2/News1 © News1 Reporter Daeil Oh |
U.S. President Joe Biden first approached and talked to Mrs. Kim, who said, “When I visited Korea last month, the word ‘made up’ became a hot topic.” I had a conversation with President Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, on topics such as art and culture.
In addition, Mrs. Kim had a conversation and took pictures with the French President’s wife, Bridget Macron, and the Polish President’s wife, Kornhauser.
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| President Yun Seok-yeol’s wife, Kim Gun-hee, poses for a commemorative photo with the spouses of NATO allies and partners, including Queen Leticia, wife of King Felipe VI, at Sanil Deponso Palace in Spain on the morning of the 29th (local time). (Spain Royal Family Twitter) 2022.6.2/News1 © News1 Reporter Daeil Oh |
On the 29th, Mrs. Kim visited the Ildefonso Palace in Spain, the Royal Glass Factory, and the Sofia Art Museum with the spouses of the leaders of NATO countries.
It is reported that Kim had many conversations with Jill Biden during this meeting. She said, “I was touched by her visit to Ukraine. It also made a lot of repercussions in Korea,” she said. received,” she said.
“When you go to a high position, there is always a lot of advice from those around you, but what’s important is your own thoughts and will,” she said. “Just be yourself.”
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| President Yoon Seok-yeol’s wife, Kim Kun-hee, visits ‘ECOALF’, an upcycling clothing store in Madrid, Spain on the 29th (local time) and examines products while listening to the explanations from officials. (Presidential Office Photo Reporters) 2022.6.30/News1 © News1 Reporter Daeil Oh |
On the same day, Ms. Kim went on another solo schedule. She was visiting an eco-friendly upcycling store called ‘Ecoalf’ in Madrid. She said that Mrs. Kim has shown great interest in her usual environmental field.
After listening to the staff’s explanation, Ms. Kim said, “I also try to purchase and use eco-friendly products as much as possible.”
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| President Yun Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Kun-hee greet each other aboard Air Force Unit 1 at Barajas International Airport after the first tour of the NATO summit held in Madrid, Spain for 5 days and 3 nights in the afternoon (local time) on the afternoon of the 30th (local time). . (Presidential Office Photo Reporters) 2022.6.30/News1 © News1 Reporter Daeil Oh |
On the 30th, the last day of her Spanish itinerary, Ms. Kim visited a Korean grocery store and boarded a flight to Korea.
The clothes and accessories that Mrs. Kim wore on this business trip for 3 nights and 5 days once again drew a lot of attention.
First Lady Kim will return to Korea with President Yoon on the 1st. There is also a possibility that the official schedule will be expanded in earnest in areas of interest such as the disabled, pets, the environment, art, and exhibitions in the future.
Meanwhile, the photos in the program prepared by the Spanish royal family were taken by the Spanish royal family photographer.
yooss@news1.kr
