Mrs. Kim Gun-hee discusses ‘mental health’ with Mrs. Biden and ‘blipping’ rosé at Apple HQ.

Kim Geun-hee, the First Lady of South Korea, was seen speaking at a discussion on mental health held at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on November 17th (local time). The event was part of the official spouse program for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. From left to right are Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, First Lady Kim, and Rosé from the K-pop girl group Blackpink. [Yonhap]

[Herald Economy (San Francisco) = Reporter Jung Yoon-hee] First Lady Kim Geun-hee participated in the APEC spouse program held at Apple’s headquarters, ‘Apple Park,’ on the morning of the 17th (local time), which focused on the topic of mental health.

The event, hosted by First Lady Jill Biden, was attended by First Lady Kim, the spouses of the leaders of Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines, and Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. Rosé from the K-pop girl group ‘Blackpink’ also joined the event at the invitation of First Lady Biden, according to a written briefing from spokesperson Lee Do-woon.

During the roundtable discussion on mental health, First Lady Biden mentioned that modern technology has facilitated communication among people, but now efforts should also be made for mental health to combat feelings of isolation and anxiety.

First Lady Kim agreed with this sentiment, stating, “In Korea, there is a characteristic of being very conscious of each other in a competitive society.” She added, “Due to excessive competitive consciousness, many emotions are involved, and therefore, people get tired more easily. I hope these issues can be improved through various mental health programs.”

According to the spokesperson, First Lady Kim has been deeply interested in mental health initiatives, including participating in a mental health conversation titled ‘It’s Okay, Don’t Worry’ last September.

First Lady Kim Geun-hee, who participated in the official spouse program of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, is seen taking a commemorative photo with the spouses of other leaders at a ‘Discussion on Mental Health’ held at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on November 17th (local time). From left to right are Rosé from Blackpink, First Lady Kim, Rachael Marape, wife of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, Louise Araneta Marcos, wife of the President of the Philippines, Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail, wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General. [Yonhap]

The participants at the event agreed that mental health is a global issue that everyone needs to collectively address, and a shift in perception is needed to openly discuss mental health, just as with physical health.

Singer Rosé also shared her experiences. She said that the journey to becoming a successful singer was not easy, and there are still occasional difficulties, but she realized the importance of valuing her self-worth. She hopes that her music, based on this realization, can inspire and comfort many people.

First Lady Kim expressed her gratitude to Rosé for sharing her challenging experiences, and encouraged her by stating that the global influence of K-pop and Korean culture, including Blackpink, is tremendous. She also expressed her anticipation for the positive messages and emotions that will be conveyed through their music in the future.

First Lady Kim Geun-hee, who participated in the official spouse program of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, is seen conversing with Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, and Rosé from Blackpink at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on November 17th (local time). [Yonhap]

Following the event, First Lady Kim visited Apple’s experiential space where she previewed the mental health-related technology demonstration of the Apple Vision Pro and Apple Watch, both of which are set to launch next year. She also took a walk around Apple Park and visited Apple’s circular office building.

First Lady Kim noted that Apple Park is an innovative building from an environmental perspective and appreciated the ‘serenity rooms’ designed for meditation and prayer in each building, considering it part of the efforts for mental health.

First Lady Kim said, “I am impressed by Apple’s architecture, which aims for environmental friendliness and carbon neutrality, and the careful creation of spaces that prioritize the mental health of employees. I hope to see more of such spaces in Korea.” She also expressed her delight at seeing the building designed by Norman Foster, a master of high-tech architectural technology whom she admires.

First Lady Kim Geun-hee and Rosé from Blackpink, who participated in the official spouse program of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, are seen attending a ‘Discussion on Mental Health’ held at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, on November 17th (local time). [Yonhap]

First Lady Kim and First Lady Biden, who visited the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. together during the state visit in April, recalled viewing the works of Mark Rothko. They also discussed the connection between Apple’s founder Steve Jobs and Mark Rothko.

First Lady Kim introduced that the late Steve Jobs studied the works of Mark Rothko and even hung his paintings in various workspaces. She also shared her experience of organizing a Mark Rothko exhibition based on this inspiration.

First Lady Biden expressed her gratitude to First Lady Kim for participating in the APEC spouse program, which focused on mental health, an area that First Lady Kim has been actively involved in and interested in.