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Wife of South Korea’s Lee shuns limelight to reduce ‘first lady risk’

South Korean first lady Kim Hea-kyung remains largely out of the spotlight one year into President Lee Jae Myung’s administration, adopting a low-key public role…

By Samantha Johnson / June 14, 2026
South Korean first lady Kim Hea-kyung remains largely out of the spotlight one year into President Lee Jae Myung’s administration, adopting a low-key public role that contrasts sharply with the high-profile approach of her predecessor, Kim Keon-hee.

Kim Hea-kyung has limited her public appearances and stayed away from political issues – a strategy political observers describe as prudent, given that presidential spouses, despite holding no official constitutional role, can shape public perceptions and affect a president’s political standing.

“The country has witnessed the so-called first lady risk associated with former first lady Kim Keon-hee,” an analyst said on condition of anonymity. “Against that backdrop, the incumbent first lady’s reserved role appears appropriate and consistent with her role of supporting the president.”

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Kim Keon-hee was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted on charges including stock price manipulation involving Deutsch Motors and accepting money and valuables linked to the Unification Church, a religious group.
Her husband, former president Yoon Suk-yeol, is currently serving a prison sentence over his illegal martial law declaration in December 2024.

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Kim Hea-kyung has primarily accompanied Lee at domestic events and on diplomatic visits abroad. When appearing on her own, the first lady has focused on a narrow range of activities, particularly in non-political areas such as welfare, volunteer work and charitable causes.

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