As South Koreans delivered a decisive verdict in Wednesday’s snap presidential election, Democratic Party candidate
Lee Jae-myung
secured a thumping victory.
With Lee’s win, his spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, now steps into the role of First Lady—a position that carries both ceremonial weight and constant public scrutiny in South Korean politics.
Over the years, Kim, 58, has mostly stayed behind the spotlight, carrying out her acts of support privately and separately from her husband’s political journey. But now, as the Asian nation looks ahead, she’s once again part of the conversation.
So, who is Kim Hye-kyung? What has her journey looked like so far? And what might her new role look like? Here’s a closer look at South Korea’s First Lady.
From music to marriage: Her life with Lee Jae-myung
Born in 1966, Kim Hye-kyung comes from a background quite different from that of her husband.
While Lee Jae-myung grew up in poverty, Kim was raised in a middle-class family in Seoul. She graduated with a degree in piano from the Department of Piano at Sookmyung Women’s University, as reported by The Korea Herald.
She worked as a piano instructor and was preparing to pursue graduate studies in Austria. But her plans changed in August 1990, when she met Lee, then a practicing lawyer, through his sister-in-law.
In a 2017 interview, Kim candidly recalled her first impression of Lee, “He wasn’t particularly handsome, and he looked older than his age.”
Lee Jae-myung, right, and his wife Kim Hye-kyung pose for a commemorative photo holding their son early in their marriage. Image courtesy: Lee Jae-myung
Their connection deepened quickly. They began meeting almost every day. Lee later revealed that he proposed to her just four days after their first meeting, saying: “I fell in love with you at first sight.”
Instead of a diamond ring, he gave her six volumes of diaries he had kept since the age of 13, according to Maiel Business newspaper.
Kim initially turned down the proposal. But those diaries changed her mind.
Touched by the warmth and sincerity in his writing, she eventually said yes. The couple tied the knot in March 1991 and moved into their newlywed home in an apartment in Seongnam seven months later.
Kim set aside her dream of studying music abroad to focus on raising their family. The couple has two sons: Dong-ho, 33, and Yoon-ho, 32.
She once described their home life as deeply bookish and engaged, saying, “There are many books everywhere in the house, and father-to-son discussions take place on social issues or books at every meal.”
Politics wasn’t part of Kim’s plan
It might come as a surprise, but Kim wasn’t always supportive of her husband’s political ambitions.
When Lee first told her he wanted to run for Seongnam mayor back in 2006, her response was blunt. According to local media reports, Kim told him he should “file for divorce before entering the race.”
But over time, her stance softened. As reported by Korea JoongAng Daily, Kim eventually began to feel that “participating in public service with her husband was rewarding.”
South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung (L) and his wife Kim Hye-kyung arrive for his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 4, 2025. AFP
Lee’s political journey took off soon after. He was elected mayor of Seongnam in 2010, then went on to serve as governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2018 to 2021. Along the way, Kim slowly took on a more visible role, shaping her image as an active partner in Lee’s political life.
She gained public attention by appearing on television alongside him and releasing a cookbook in 2018 titled ‘Let’s Make Meals;, which portrayed her as a warm, hands-on homemaker. The book later became a bestseller at Kyobo Book Centre.
A shadow cast by controversy
Kim’s public presence hasn’t been without bumps along the way.
On May 12, she was fined 1.5 million won (around $1,100) by an appellate court for misusing a Gyeonggi provincial government corporate card.
The court found that a dinner she hosted in August 2021—paid for with the card—was used in a way that supported Lee’s bid in the Democratic Party’s primary for the 2022 presidential election. As a result, it was deemed a violation of the Public Official Election Act.
Kim has appealed the ruling to South Korea’s Supreme Court. Now, even if the verdict is upheld, it’s unlikely to affect her current position as First Lady, which is not an elected office.
Becoming the First Lady
During Lee’s presidential campaign, Kim stayed mostly behind the scenes. She chose not to give speeches or join major rallies. Instead, she focused her efforts on visiting religious groups and marginalised communities, away from the political limelight.
Kim refrained from making public speeches and focused on quiet, behind-the-scenes support for Lee. Rather, the first lady visited religious organisations and marginalised communities, steering clear of political events.
Kim refrained from making public speeches and focused on quiet, behind-the-scenes support for Lee. Rather, the first lady visited religious organisations and marginalised communities. Reuters
A Democratic Party campaign official explained that these visits were about “promoting national unity.”
“Just as the goal of politics is to bring people together, religion also plays a role in fostering reconciliation and harmony,” the official said, according to local reports.
One reason why Kim has kept a low profile could also be because of how previous First Ladies have come under intense public scrutiny, including former First Lady
Kim Keon-hee,
who was mired in corruption and stock manipulation scandals. Given the controversial past, many expect Kim Hye-kyung to take a more reserved approach.
“Considering that the public moves of the former president’s wives were controversial, she is likely to maintain a quiet internal support stance even after the presidential election,” a senior Democratic Party official said.
However, those who know her well suggest she may grow into the public role in her own way.
“Sometimes she’s even more resolute and firm than her husband,” one longtime aide told Korea JooAng Daily. “She will inevitably become active in public life.”
Kim has kept a low profile could also be because of how previous First Ladies have come under intense public scrutiny. However, those who know her well suggest she may grow into the public role in her own way. AFP
Kim herself has spoken about how she views the role of First Lady, not as a political figure, but as someone who can help shift social attitudes.
She said she believes the First Lady can make “a positive impact through campaigns to change public awareness and cultural norms when the president manages policies in the political sphere.”
As she steps into this new chapter, it remains to be seen how Kim Hye-kyung manages her new role.
With input from agencies