Translation
First Lady of South Korea Kim Hye-kyung meets next-generation Korean artists in New York: ‘As a mother of children around your age, I am proud.'
On September 25th 2025 (local time), First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, wife of President Lee Jae-myung, met with next-generation Korean artists in New York and stated, “I will do my best, though modestly, to support more Korean artists in entering through the doors you have worked so hard to open.”
That morning, Mrs. Kim attended a roundtable with emerging artists held at the Korean Cultural Center New York. According to a written briefing by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Jeon Eun-soo, she remarked, “Behind your achievements must have been great passion, sweat, and tears.”
Participants included Lee So-eun (U.S. lawyer and singer-songwriter), Park Hye-sang (soprano at the New York Metropolitan Opera), Hwang Joo-min (performer in the Broadway musical “& Juliet”), Yoon Da-in (optical illusion artist), Kim Tae-i (curatorial fellow at the New Museum, Hanwha Life), Wang Hyun-ji (film foley artist), Chun Chan Jun (head of CG at Crafty Apes), Kim Lora (co-founder and creative director of the women’s fashion brand Monse), Andrew Kwon (founder of the fashion brand ANDREW KWON), and Ahn Soo-yeon (poet and translator).
The attendees shared conversations on various themes, including barriers they faced while working in New York, moments of growth, and their aspirations in their respective fields.
Mrs. Kim added, “As a mother of children around your age, I feel proud of your accomplishments. As a fan watching from afar in Korea, I am delighted and proud of your successes here.”
The participants noted that with the spread of the Korean Wave (Hallyu), the perception of Korea has been changing with surprising speed, even from the perspective of local artists working in New York.
They further assessed that the growing interest and favorable view of Korean culture have been widening opportunities for Korean artists in the city.
Wang Hyun-ji, a film sound effects professional, said, “From the time I first came to the U.S. as an international student until now, one regret has been the lack of a community where I could communicate with seniors in my field and seek advice. I want to play a role in supporting young Korean artists who dream of advancing into New York.”
Ahn Soo-yeon, translator, remarked, “My work is not simply about transferring language, but about connecting cultures and building a global community. I hope that exchange programs such as international workshops can be further activated so that Korean literature and poetry can be introduced more widely to the world.”
