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The first lady must reflect on herself first

Published: 30 Jul. 2024, 20:27

The presidential office on Tuesday announced a plan to establish an office for first lady Kim Keon-hee to guide the role as the wife of the president. The announcement came nearly at the halfway point of Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidency — and five months after his “consideration of the plan” in his New Year’s interview with KBS. The decision reflects the president’s acceptance of the persistent demand from the new People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon for the installation of the office.

In a recent Gallup Korea poll on Yoon’s performance as the president, 63 percent cited issues with the first lady as a primary reason for their disappointment. This kind of abnormality can hardly be seen in advanced countries. The number shows the level of people’s fatigue over the way the first lady behaves, including her acceptance of a luxury handbag from a suspicious pastor.

When ordinary citizens are struggling to survive, the presidential office left the first lady unattended. By setting up the office to manage her schedules and messages transparently — and with restraint — the presidential office must not give unnecessary burdens to Yoon.

But the first lady must first reflect on how she behaved. For instance, she delivered her apology to the people through a lawyer after being summoned for questioning by the prosecution about the handbag case and her alleged stock prices manipulation. We wonder why the first lady conveyed her apology to prosecutors, not directly to the public, if she really regretted the affair.

Above all, the presidential office must clear up her allies in the office before launching the new office. Political pundits have started mentioning the names of her six confidantes. Three months before the 2022 presidential election, she pledged to be faithful to her role as a wife if her husband won the election. We hope she keeps that promise now. Otherwise, suspicions about her involvements in the government will not subside even after the launch of the new office.

The president must appoint a special inspector fast so that he or she can oversee the president’s family and friends. As Yoon said he would appoint a person if the National Assembly recommends one, lawmakers must find an appropriate person quickly.

The seat of the special inspector has been empty for eight years since former President Park Geun-hye appointed one for the first time. To restore public confidence in the president, Yoon needs to accept a person who can be recommended by the opposition. Instead of trying to score political points, the majority opposition must enact a law mandating the installation of the office for the first lady no matter who becomes the next president.