Attention grows on main opposition candidate's wife

By Kang Seung-woo

With the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) having officially launched its presidential election committee, the party is now focused on when the wife of its presidential candidate, Yoon Suk-yeol, will join her husband's campaign.

It has been over a month since Yoon become a candidate, Nov. 5, and less than 100 days are left before the election. But Yoon's wife, Kim Kun-hee, has yet to make a public appearance in sharp contrast to Kim Hye-gyeong, the wife of Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) who has frequently accompanied the former Gyeonggi Province governor, and even personally appealed to voters.

Although Yoon said she will make an appearance at the appropriate time, the DPK continues to take aim at Kim due to allegations of illicit behavior surrounding her. Kim has been accused of playing a role in a stock manipulation case involving Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, and academic plagiarism among others. In addition, she is also haunted by her mother's conviction in a series of fraud cases.

“It does not make sense why Kim is at the center of attention when she is not a celebrity,” Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the PPP secretary-general, said in a radio interview, Wednesday, adding voters cast their ballots based on candidates, not their spouses.

“She will make a public appearance at the right time.”

Kweon added that Kim was not the kind of person who enjoys the spotlight.

Im Tae-hee, a senior official of the PPP election committee, also said rather than coming to the fore, she may support Yoon behind the scenes.

She is said to have helped Yoon by making frequent exchanges with the wife of Kim Chong-in who leads the election committee and taking advice from her.

Amid the public absence of Yoon's wife, DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil said, Tuesday, that she needs to stop exerting her influence behind the scenes and step out in public.

“The thoughts and background of the candidate's spouse, which greatly influence the decision-making of the president, must be verified. Kim should address public questions surrounding her rather than saying that she is supporting Yoon behind the curtain,” Song wrote on Facebook.