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| From left are Kim Jung-sook, wife of Democratic Party of Korea contender Moon Jae-in; Kim Mi-kyung, wife of People's Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo; and Lee Seung-bae, husband of Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung. Presidential candidates' spouses visited traditional markets, welfare centers, colleges and religious facilities to meet with voters and promote their candidate spouses. / Yonhap |
By Choi Ha-young
Presidential candidates' spouses are as busy as the contenders ahead of the May 9 election, meeting voters to highlight their partners' strengths and make up for their weaknesses.
Kim Jung-sook, wife of Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has been serving as the frontrunner's "special envoy to the Honam area." Since last fall, she has visited every corner of the region that includes the Jeolla provinces and Gwangju, to counter anti-Moon sentiment there.
Residents in the liberal stronghold overwhelmingly voted for Moon in the 2012 presidential election, but have been complaining about the former DPK chief's "betrayal" since then. To win their hearts and minds again, his wife has visited local welfare centers, washed at public baths and cooked for elderly citizens.
"I could sympathize with the pain of the Jeolla region and Gwangju," she said in an interview, April 11, in Gwangju, the historical city with a legacy of bitter pro-democracy struggles. "Since my husband is too busy, I often deliver Honam voters' messages to him, so he can keep up with their needs," she added.
Due to her efforts, Moon has regained Honam residents' support that once leaned toward People's Party's candidate Ahn Cheol-soo. Moon's support stood at 55.1 percent compared to Ahn's 31.6 percent according to a survey by the Hankook Ilbo and The Korea Times, Tuesday.
Recently, Kim is moving with the wives of the DPK's former presidential hopefuls who lost to Moon ― Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, South Chungcheong Governor An Hee-jung and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon ― to show the largest party's will for integration.
The three are supporting Moon on behalf of their husbands who are banned from campaigning as public servants. From An's family, not only his wife but also his 25-year-old son has joined Moon's campaign team.
Embroiled in scandal
Ahn and his wife, Seoul National University (SNU) professor Kim Mi-kyung, have been role models among young couples because of their outstanding career paths as experts. Kim, who was a medical professor, headed for the United States to study law, while Ahn successfully transformed himself from a doctor to an IT expert.
"My husband has always shared what he achieved, from medical volunteer work to free computer virus vaccines," she said March 19, when Ahn declared his presidential bid.
However, amid swirling smear campaigns, it was alleged that she had Ahn's aides run her private errands. She further incurred public anger from another allegation that she obtained tenure at SNU thanks to Ahn's influence.
The wife of Hong Joon-pyo, the presidential nominee of the far-right Liberty Korea Party, is busy smoothing over Hong's rough words. He has drawn fire for his sexist remarks and his involvement in an attempted rape during his college days.
"I am proud of my husband who is confident in front of top dogs and modest in front of the weak," Lee Soon-sam, said in a televised speech. "Even though he is straightforward, my husband has never spoken falsely. His confidence without fear has made him what he is."
Nation's 1st ‘first gentleman?'
Lee Seung-bae, husband of Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung, dreams of becoming first gentleman for the first time in Korean history. "It's such an honor to live as Sim's husband," he said in an interview. Lee is campaigning for Sim, the sole female candidate.
He has been a breadwinner and a house-husband for decades to back up Sim's labor movement. "After meeting her, my perception of gender roles was broken," he said. "Helping my wife contribute to the society is the meaning of my existence."
With such remarks breaking gender stereotypes, he has emerged as a superstar among young women. An internet user's comment has gone viral: "Scientists should reproduce Lee and distribute him to every household."
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