[APEC Summit] Mrs. Kim Gun-hee “Korea is characterized by strong mutual awareness”.

[iNews24, Reporter Choi Ki-cheol] Kim Geon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, has said, “Korea has a characteristic where individuals are highly conscious of each other in a competitive society.”

Kim, who is visiting San Francisco, USA, with President Yoon Seok-yeol for the APEC summit, said this while attending the APEC spouse program on the 17th (local time) under the theme of ‘mental health’. She made these remarks during a roundtable discussion on the same topic, expressing her agreement with the comments made by Jill Biden.

Before Kim, Jill Biden said, “Communication between people has improved with modern technology,” and “Now we need to make an effort for mental health, such as isolation and anxiety.”

Kim further stated, “Due to excessive competition, a lot of emotions are involved, and therefore we get tired more quickly,” and “I hope these problems can be improved through various mental health programs.”

Presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon shared in a written briefing that “Participants agreed that mental health is a global issue that everyone should consider together, and just like physical health, a change in perception is needed to openly discuss mental health.”

Rosé, a member of the Korean idol group BLACKPINK, also attended the event. Rosé said, “The journey to success as a singer was not easy and there are still difficulties from time to time, but I realized the importance of valuing my own worth,” and “I hope my music based on this experience can inspire and comfort many people.”

Kim expressed her gratitude to Rosé for sharing her struggles and said, “The global influence of K-pop, including BLACKPINK, and Korean culture is tremendous,” and “I look forward to being moved by your music and positive messages in the future.”

Following the roundtable discussion, the first ladies toured the Apple Experience Space, where they previewed the mental health-related technology demonstrations of ‘Apple Vision Pro’ and ‘Apple Watch’, which are set to launch next year, and took a walk around Apple Park.

Kim said, “I am impressed by Apple’s architecture, which aims for eco-friendliness and carbon neutrality, and the careful space creation that values the mental health of employees,” expressing her hope that more such spaces will be created in Korea.