Kim Jung-sook

Kim Jung-sook (Korean: 김정숙; born 15 November 1954) is a South Korean classical singer[2] who is currently the First Lady of the Republic of South Korea and spouse of Moon Jae-in, the 19th President of South Korea.[3]

For other people named Kim Jeong-suk, see Kim Jeong-suk (disambiguation).

Kim Jung-sook
김정숙
First Lady of South Korea
Assumed office
10 May 2017
PresidentMoon Jae-in
Preceded byKim Yoon-ok (2013)
Personal details
Born (1954-11-15) 15 November 1954[1]
Seoul, South Korea[1]
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1981)​
Children2
ResidenceBlue House
Alma materKyung Hee University[1]
ReligionRoman Catholicism but previously Protestant Christian
In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.
Kim Jung-sook
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Jeong-suk
McCune–ReischauerKim Chŏng-suk

Overview

Kim's parents used to run a Hanbok shop at Gwangjang market in Seoul but later moved to Gwanghwa Island.

She graduated from one of nation's prestigious women's schools - Sookmyung Girls' Middle and High School.

Kim holds a BA in Vocal Music at Kyung Hee University.[4][5] She was a member of Seoul Metropolitan Chorus between 1978 and 1982.

Kim met her future husband, Moon, during their university years at Kyung Hee University.[6][7] Their relationship began to develop after she took care of Moon who was then knocked out by tear gas during an anti-Park Chung-hee protest.[7] Moon and Kim married in 1981 when Moon was studying at Judicial Research and Training Institute,[6] after Kim proposed marriage to Moon[8] in an act that was virtually unheard of in South Korea.[6]

Due to 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 focuses on minorities in society, such as people with disabilities, single-parent families and elderly people, by hosting related events arranged by the Blue House, making commemorative speeches for related cultural events and visiting related facilities when accompanying her husband's official or state visit to foreign countries.

Kim and Moon live with adopted dogs and cats from their home in Yangsan and to now Blue House. At their house in Yangsan they lived with several dogs and cats who were all once abandoned by their previous guardians. Among those, a dog Maru (Korean: 마루, a Pungsan dog) and a cat Jjing-jjing (or Jjing-Jjing-ee Korean: 찡찡 or 찡찡이) have been confirmed to live with them at the Blue House either by the media or its official social media posts.[10] After coming to the Blue House, a dog Tory (Korean: 토리, a mixed-breed) was adopted from an animal shelter in contrast with other "First Dogs" who have traditionally been purebred Jindo dogs.[11][12] They also received a pair of Pungsan dogs male Song-gang (Korean: 송강) and female Gom-ee (Korean: 곰이) from Pyongyang as a gift shortly after Inter-Korean Summit in September 2018.[13] Gom-ee later gave birth to six puppies San-ee, Deul-ee, Gang-ee, Byul-ee, Dal-ee and Hen-nim (Korean: 산이, 들이, 강이, 별이, 달이 and 햇님) named after Korean words for parts of nature - a mountain, grass field, a river, a star, the Moon and the Sun. On 30 August 2019, six puppies have been sent to Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon and Gwangju leaving their parents at the Blue House.[14] They now live with at least four dogs and a cat at the Blue House.

Honours

Foreign honours

References
  1. "First Lady Kim Jung-sook". Korea.net. Korean Culture and Information Service. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  2. "The singer, the model and the investment banker: Meet the First Ladies (and husbands) of the G20". The Telegraph. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2018. 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.
  3. Hyunjoo Jin (9 May 2017). "South Korea's shy new President Moon hits the spotlight". Reuters. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  4. "Kim Jung-sook: First Lady of the Republic of Korea" (PDF). Cheong Wa Dae. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  5. "Korea Has a New 1st Lady". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  6. Chang, May Choon (22 May 2017). "South Korea's vivacious new First Lady charms the nation". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  7. "I aim to be just myself, as I have always been: Kim Jung Sook, South Korea's new first lady". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  8. Lim, Jeong-yeo (16 May 2017). "Photos of South Korean President Moon when he was younger". The Korea Herald. Herald Corporation. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  9. Bak, Se-hwan (10 May 2017). "[Exclusive] First lady Kim Jung-sook vows to act as communication channel". The Korea Herald. Herald Corporation. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  10. Lim, Jeong-yeo (14 May 2017). "Korea greets first-ever 'first cat'". Korea Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  11. Yang, Heekyong (26 July 2017). "South Korean shelter dog basks in presidential glory as 'First Dog'". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  12. Choi, Jieun (11 May 2017). "Meet Tory, South Korea's Potential First-Dog-To-Be". Korea Exposé. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  13. "Doggie diplomacy: Kim gifts pair of N. Korean pooches to S. Korea's Moon (PHOTOS)". RT International. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  14. "靑, 김정은 선물한 풍산개 '곰이' 새끼 6마리 지자체에 분양" [Blue House, puppies of Gom-ee, a Pungsan dog given by Kim Jong-un as a gift sent to local governments] (in Korean).
  15. www.kongehuset.no
  16. South Korean State Visit to Sweden
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Vacant
previously held by Kim Yoon-ok		 First Lady of South Korea
2017–present		 Incumbent
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