First lady meets support group to mark Coming-of-Age Day

By Kim Hyelin and Yoon Sojung

First lady Kim Jung-sook invited to Cheong Wa Dae members of a support group that helps people leave welfare institutions and become self-supporting.

Vice presidential spokesperson Ko Minjung said in a written media briefing on May 20 that, “First lady Kim held a dinner meeting with 16 members of a youth group, the Pinwheel Supporters, to mark Coming-of-Age Day.”

Pinwheel Supporters provides education and consultation programs to help teenagers who have to leave welfare facilities after they grow up, and to help them become self-supporting members of society.

First lady Kim offered roses to the invited youth, who are all aged 19 this year, to celebrate each of them having reached the age of majority.

She said, “I have been so interested in the responsibilities of the country for children with single parents or for children who grew up in welfare facilities.”

“The government dreams of building a country where everyone can live together in a supportive society.”

“I hope I can help a little to change social conceptions,” she added.

“I want to give back unconditional love to children who have to grow up in a similar environment to where I grew up,” said one of the attendees.

Another attendee explained why they volunteer for the support group, by saying that, “I want to offer some hope to the kids who will follow the same path just as I did.”

Meeting participants told the first lady about the difficulties they had in their daily lives, especially when they have to explain to people about the foster family system, due to a broad lack of understanding. They also told her about problems they had when they had to get permission from a parent when they signed a phone contract or had a passport issued, and asked for improvements in the existing system.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr