First lady Kim Keon Hee on the morning of June 6 wipes rain off President Yoon Suk Yeol’s clothes at a ceremony to mark the 67th Memorial Day at Seoul National Cemetery in the capital’s Dongjak-gu District. (Office of the 20th President)
By Kang Gahui and Kim Hayeon
First lady Kim Keon Hee on the morning of June 6 attended a Memorial Day ceremony at Seoul National Cemetery.
This was the first time for her to appear at an event on a national commemorative day with President Yoon Suk Yeol since his inauguration.
Wearing a black suit with a white handkerchief on her left chest, she paid her respects in front of Memorial Tower and stood next to her husband during the ceremony.
Caught on camera were scenes of the first lady wiping rain off the president’s clothes and trousers with her handkerchief and fastening the buttons on his raincoat.
President Yoon in a speech said, “The freedom and democracy we enjoy today could be defended through the courage and dedication of patriotic martyrs and the souls of fallen heroes who sacrificed themselves for the nation,” adding, “I believe that building a proud Korea where freedom, democracy and human rights flourish is the way to make their sacrifices shine.”
“We will more warmly embrace people of national merit and their bereaved families,” he added. “We need to build a country where heroes in uniform are respected.”
Meanwhile, the presidential couple visited Veterans Health Service Medical Center in Seoul after the ceremony. They met decorated Korean War veterans Park Un-wook and Jung In-bae and Vietnam War veterans Song Sang-woo and Cho Han-tae, prayed for their speedy recovery and gave them care packages.
kgh89@korea.kr
