Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of President Lee Jae-myung, who is visiting Canada to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit, visited the Calgary Korean Community Center on the morning of the 17th (local time) to meet local compatriots. This is her first public schedule as first lady.
During the meeting, Kim noted, "Those compatriots living abroad seem to know more about the news from Korea than we do. I am often surprised by how detailed their understanding is and how well they judge the situation." She added, "Even though you are far away, I feel that your yearning for our country is much more fervent than ours who live in Korea."
She continued, "You must face many difficulties, and I believe you have been even more troubled lately because of concerns for our homeland." She expressed hope that today's meeting would become an opportunity for everyone to share their thoughts about what they wish for in their homeland openly.
Kim also added, "I came with the thought that the gathering would be small and informal, but there are some speakers with such lively voices, and even the president of the Korean Community (Choi Jin-young) is here, so I wonder if it was appropriate for me to come to a place where the president should be."
In response, Choi Jin-young, the president of the Korean community, said, "Your visit brings great comfort and encouragement to the immigrant community's loneliness. I believe today's meeting will be an unforgettable encouragement and will serve as an opportunity to strengthen the consolidation with our homeland moving forward."
Afterward, Kim reflected on listening to the remarks from the attendees, saying, "I have realized once again how challenging it is to maintain one's pride and dignity as a Korean while living in a distant land, and I will pay close attention to support our compatriots so that they can participate with peace of mind and enthusiasm in their activities."
Additionally, Kim wrote in the guestbook, "I will work to create a proud and dignified homeland that our compatriots can be proud of."
About 30 local residents came out waving the Korean flag and chanting President Lee's name. Some residents were teary-eyed as they embraced Kim.
Later, Kim had lunch at a local Korean restaurant with her entourage. She greeted about 20 residents there and took pictures.
After finishing the meal, she visited the local National Arts Center for Disabled People to look into the current status of support for arts and cultural activities for people with disabilities.
Kim stated, "Canada has well-established facilities and infrastructure that allow people with disabilities to go out comfortably, safely, and freely. It is impressive how the community embraces people with disabilities."
She emphasized that our government should also provide policy support for cultural and artistic activities for people with disabilities, expressing hope that cooperation in the field of disability arts between the two countries will be further promoted.