By Rachel Lee
First lady Kim Jung-sook was a hidden helper in her husband President Moon Jae-in's productive luncheon meeting with the floor leaders of five parties at Cheong Wa Dae on Friday.
She cooked dessert herself for the guests.
Presidential office spokesman Park Soo-hyun said Kim served handmade ginseng snacks made with jujubes and honey to her husband and the five floor leaders ― Rep. Woo Won-sik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Rep. Chung Woo-taik of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Rep. Kim Dong-cheol of the People's Party, Rep. Joo Ho-young of the Bareun Party and Rep. Roh Hoe-chan of the Justice Party ― after the main meal.
She also gave the floor leaders the snacks gift-wrapped in patchwork quilts, which represented "political compromise," after the meeting, Park said.
Kim also delivered handwritten cards, expressing her gratitude to the leaders for their time and her hope that all the parties could work together to achieve what the people have longed for, Park added.
Bibimbap, a Korean mixed rice dish, was the main dish, representing "intergration," according to the spokesman.
Her support for her husband was seen as a sign she may not stick to the traditional role of first ladies who usually remain in the background.
Kim has reportedly been known for her exceptional cooking skills.
In 2015, she invited DPK lawmakers and acquaintances to her house in Jongno-gu, Seoul, when Moon was the party leader. She served dishes made with ingredients including abalone, scallops, snow crab and aubergine. She even prepared sea bass sashimi.
Since President Moon took office on May 10, the first lady, 63, has been the center of public interest over what kind of role she could play, especially after more than four years of single former President Park Geun-hye, who is on trial on corruption charges.
Kim, seen always beaming during the election campaign, has been dubbed by the media as the "pleasant lady Jung-sook," referring to her bright personality that complemented her husband's sometimes brusque character.
Kim did not wear "hanbok," the traditional Korean attire, at the inauguration ceremony. She was clad in a white dress on May 10 _ an unconventional outfit that showed she may not stick to the conventional character of the country's first ladies.
Kim was born in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and graduated from Sookmyung Girls' Middle and High School, before advancing to Kyung Hee University to study vocal music.
She met Moon on a blind date when she was a freshman in 1974. They married in 1981, after dating for seven years. During that time, Moon was jailed twice for student activism and conscripted into the Special Forces. He also passed the bar exam during this time.
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| Kim Jung-sook |
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| ginseng snacks |
She cooked dessert herself for the guests.
Presidential office spokesman Park Soo-hyun said Kim served handmade ginseng snacks made with jujubes and honey to her husband and the five floor leaders ― Rep. Woo Won-sik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Rep. Chung Woo-taik of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Rep. Kim Dong-cheol of the People's Party, Rep. Joo Ho-young of the Bareun Party and Rep. Roh Hoe-chan of the Justice Party ― after the main meal.
She also gave the floor leaders the snacks gift-wrapped in patchwork quilts, which represented "political compromise," after the meeting, Park said.
Kim also delivered handwritten cards, expressing her gratitude to the leaders for their time and her hope that all the parties could work together to achieve what the people have longed for, Park added.
Bibimbap, a Korean mixed rice dish, was the main dish, representing "intergration," according to the spokesman.
Her support for her husband was seen as a sign she may not stick to the traditional role of first ladies who usually remain in the background.
Kim has reportedly been known for her exceptional cooking skills.
In 2015, she invited DPK lawmakers and acquaintances to her house in Jongno-gu, Seoul, when Moon was the party leader. She served dishes made with ingredients including abalone, scallops, snow crab and aubergine. She even prepared sea bass sashimi.
Since President Moon took office on May 10, the first lady, 63, has been the center of public interest over what kind of role she could play, especially after more than four years of single former President Park Geun-hye, who is on trial on corruption charges.
Kim, seen always beaming during the election campaign, has been dubbed by the media as the "pleasant lady Jung-sook," referring to her bright personality that complemented her husband's sometimes brusque character.
Kim did not wear "hanbok," the traditional Korean attire, at the inauguration ceremony. She was clad in a white dress on May 10 _ an unconventional outfit that showed she may not stick to the conventional character of the country's first ladies.
Kim was born in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and graduated from Sookmyung Girls' Middle and High School, before advancing to Kyung Hee University to study vocal music.
She met Moon on a blind date when she was a freshman in 1974. They married in 1981, after dating for seven years. During that time, Moon was jailed twice for student activism and conscripted into the Special Forces. He also passed the bar exam during this time.
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