First Lady of South Korea

Hostess of the presidential residence

The first lady of the Republic of Korea (Korean: 대한민국 대통령 영부인; Hanja: 大韓民國 大統領 令夫人; RR: daehanmingug daetonglyeong yeongbu-in), commonly known as the first lady of South Korea, is the title held by the hostess of the presidential residence, usually the wife of the president of South Korea.

The current first lady is Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk Yeol, in office since 10 May 2022.

History

During the administration of President Park Chung Hee, the first lady Yuk Young-soo was killed. Afterwards, Park's daughter, Park Geun-hye, assumed the duties of first lady after her mother.^[1]

Park Geun-hye later became president herself, making her the first, and to date only, female president of South Korea. However, as she was never married while in office, there has yet to be a first gentleman of Korea.^[2]

List of first ladies of the Republic of Korea

Notes

1. Park Geun-hye is the daughter of Park Chung Hee, and took over as First Lady following the murder of her mother, Yuk Young-soo.^[3]
2. The President at the time, Park Geun-hye, was single, having never married.^[4]

See also

• First lady
• First Lady of North Korea
• President of South Korea
• List of presidents of South Korea

References

1. Carter J. Eckert, Ki-baik Lee, Young Ick Lew, Michael Robinson, and Edward W. Wagner, Korea Old and New: A History (Seoul: Ilchokak / Korea Institute, Harvard University, 1990), 377.
2. "Park Geun-hye: South Korea's first female president". BBC News. 2012-12-19. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
3. "Profile: South Korean President Park Geun-hye". BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2018. When her mother was murdered by a North Korean gunman in 1974, Ms Park served as first lady at the age of 22.
4. Phelan, Jessica (31 January 2014). "All The Single Leaders: The world's most eligible heads of state". Public Radio International. Retrieved 3 January 2018. Park said she hasn't taken a husband because she's already married to her country...