Kim Jung-sook | |
|---|---|
| 김정숙 | |
_(cropped).jpg) | |
| 11thFirst Lady of South Korea | |
| In role 10 May 2017 – 9 May 2022 | |
| President | Moon Jae-in |
| Preceded by | Choi Ji-young (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Kim Keon Hee |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1954-11-15)15 November 1954 (age 71)[1] |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Kyung Hee University[1] |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism Protestant Christian (former) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김정숙 |
| Hanja | 金正淑 |
| RR | Gim Jeongsuk |
| MR | Kim Chŏngsuk |
Kim Jung-sook (Korean:김정숙; born 15 November 1954) is a South Koreanclassical singer who served asfirst lady of South Korea from 2017 to 2022, as the wife of the 12thpresident of South KoreaMoon Jae-in.[2][3]
Kim's parents ran ahanbok shop atGwangjang market in Seoul, but later moved toGanghwa Island. She graduated from theSookmyung Girls' Middle and High School. Kim also holds aBA in Vocal Music atKyung Hee University.[4][5] She was a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Chorus from 1978 to 1982.[citation needed]
Kim met her future husband, Moon, during their university years atKyung Hee University.[6][7] Their relationship began to develop after she took care of Moon when he had been knocked out by tear gas during an anti-Park Chung Hee protest.[7] Moon and Kim married in 1981 when Moon was studying at theJudicial Research and Training Institute,[6] after Kim proposed marriage to Moon[8] in an act that was virtually unheard of in South Korea.[6]
Characterized by her "easy-going" personality, Kim has been given the nickname "Jolly Lady", widely popularised during Moon's presidential campaign in 2017.[9]
Kim became First Lady of the Republic of Korea on her husband's inauguration as President on 10 May 2017. As First Lady, she focused on members of minority groups such as people with disabilities, single-parent families and elderly people by hosting related events arranged by theBlue House. She also made commemorative speeches for cultural events and visited related facilities when accompanying her husband's official or state visit to foreign countries.[citation needed]
Kim has been accused of abusing public funds for personal clothing and accessories. People in the conservative right wing gathered photos of Kim at domestic and international public events to examine the number, brands, and prices of her apparel and accessories. Their quantity and high price caused some to demand the Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae; the then-presidential office) reveal the payment sources. The Korea Taxpayers Association (KTA) filed two lawsuits against the Blue House, once in 2019 and again in February 2022. The Seoul Administrative Court ruled that the presidential office must disclose the prices of clothing Kim wore at official events. The Blue House, not complying with the ruling, insisted that the payment information was pertaining to national security would remain classified for at least 15 years. It added that Kim paid for her clothing with her own money.[10][11][12][13][14][excessive citations]
In 2025 prosecutors withdrew cases filed against Kim over an solo trip she made to visit theTaj Mahal that was reported to have cost 400 million won ($276,336) in state funds while she was first lady in 2018 and for keeping a loanedChanel jacket that was used during a state visit in France that same year, citing lack of evidence.[15]
While at theBlue House, Kim and Moon lived with adopted dogs and cats from their hometown ofYangsan. Among those, aPungsan dog Maru (마루) and a cat Jjingjjing (찡찡; also called Jjingjjingi;찡찡이).[16] They also had a dog named Tori (토리; a mixed-breed), who was adopted from an animal shelter in contrast with other "First Dogs" who have traditionally been purebredJindo dogs.[17] They also received pair ofPungsan dogs, male Songgang (송강) and female Gomi (곰이), from Pyongyang as a gift shortly after theInter-Korean Summit in September 2018.[citation needed] Gomi later gave birth to six puppies, Sani (산이), Deuri (들이), Gangi (강이), Byeori (별이), Dari (달이), and Haennim (햇님) named after Korean words for parts of nature - a mountain, grass field, a river, a star, the Moon and the Sun. On August 30, 2019, the six puppies were sent toSeoul,Incheon,Daejeon andGwangju, leaving their parents at the Blue House.[18]
South Korea:_-_ribbon_bar.svg)
Recipient of theGrand Order of Mugunghwa (3 May 2022) President Moon Jae-in self-awarded himself and his wife, Kim, with the highest order awarded by the government of Korea.[19]
Austria:
Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of theDecoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (14 June 2021)
Norway:
Grand Cross of theRoyal Norwegian Order of Merit (12 June 2019)[20]
Spain:_GC.svg)
Dame Grand Cross of theOrder of Civil Merit (8 June 2021)[21]
Sweden:_-_Commander_Grand_Cross.svg)
Commander Grand Cross of theRoyal Order of the Polar Star (14 June 2019)[22]Kim Jung-Sook is married to President Moon Jae-In. She works full time as First Lady but also has a degree in classical singing, and is a classical vocalist.
Media related toKim Jung-sook at Wikimedia Commons
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | First Lady of South Korea 2017–2022 | Succeeded by |