Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
First lady's fan club leader steps down
Kang Shin-ub, head of first lady's fan club, speaks during a press conference in front of Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Screenshot from Kang Shin-ub's YouTube channel
By Lee Hae-rin
By Lee Hae-rin
Attorney Kang Shin-ub, the founder and president of first lady Kim Keon hee's fan club, “Keon-hee sarang,” or “love for Keon-hee,” said on Thursday that he will step down from the post.
During a press conference in front of Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, Kang said he is resigning as the leader of the fan club for the sake of the nation and the Korean public, rather than for President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim.
Noting that he created the first lady's fan club in November last year, when Yoon was a presidential candidate of the People Power Party, to help the couple, Kang said he has changed his mind.
“I still feel that I need to protect them, but reached the conclusion that I could gain more if I step back,” he said.
He didn't specify what he could gain through his resignation.
The outspoken lawyer has been at the center of controversy several times for his politically motivated speeches and open criticism of some politicians, including PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok.
His controversial comments troubled first lady Kim. Earlier, Kim circulated text messages to her acquaintances that Kang didn't represent her, and thus what he had said is his own view and not hers.
Even after stepping down, he said he will “unconditionally protect the Yoon administration and first lady Kim as a fan, as a Korean citizen, and as an attorney.”
His resignation came days after he was embroiled in controversy for his divisive remarks on politicians and political issues. Lawyer Shin Pyong said because of Kang, first lady Kim became troubled.
“He is stuck with the curse of Keon-hee, not love for the first lady,” he said. “Whenever he says something, the media refers to him as the president of the first lady's fan club. This shackled the first lady and put a lot of pressure on her as opposed to helping her. He is the man who puts the first lady in trouble,” Shin said.
Shin added that other fan club members must distance themselves from Kang if they really support the first lady.