President Lee Jae-myung's eldest son, Dong-ho, celebrated his wedding on June 14, 2025, in a private ceremony held at a wedding hall in Seoul. The event, marking just ten days after President Lee's inauguration, was a quiet family affair attended by close relatives, friends, and select key figures from the Democratic Party.
The bride, Ms. Kim, hails from Daejeon and is the daughter of Mr. Kim, chairman of the Daejeon B Traditional Market Merchant Association. She graduated from Sookmyung Women's University with a major in piano, sharing an alma mater connection as a junior colleague of First Lady Kim Hye-kyung. Additionally, Ms. Kim holds a degree in Business Administration from Korea University and was actively involved in President Lee's 2022 presidential campaign as a volunteer.
According to the Presidential Office, the wedding was intentionally kept low-key and private, with no public invitations or congratulatory flowers accepted. Only family, close acquaintances, and prominent members of the Democratic Party were invited to attend. The event was planned well in advance, before the early presidential election schedule was finalized, which is why it took place shortly after the election.
Security was a paramount concern for the wedding, given the high-profile nature of the groom. The Presidential Security Service intensified protection measures around the venue to ensure the safety of all attendees. This heightened security came amid concerns after a 50-year-old man was arrested by Seoul police for posting terror threats related to the wedding. The suspect admitted to writing the messages but denied any intention to carry out an attack and later publicly apologized, wishing the couple a happy wedding.
In the days leading up to the wedding, a mobile invitation believed to be associated with the event circulated on online forums, sparking controversy. The digital invite included basic details such as the wedding date, names of the bride and groom, and a bank account number for congratulatory money. This led to criticism from opposition lawmakers, notably Kim Ki-hyun of the People Power Party, who condemned the wide distribution of such an invitation and the public sharing of a bank account number. However, a Democratic Party lawmaker clarified that the invitation had been posted in a private group chat among judicial training institute alumni and spread further without malicious intent.
President Lee himself indirectly referenced his son's impending marriage during a campaign speech in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, on May 24, 2025. Reflecting on the hardships faced during the IMF financial crisis, he remarked, "I have to leave at least one thing for my children who have to get married, but I have nothing to give them," highlighting the personal challenges behind the scenes.
Following the wedding, President Lee was expected to shift focus to international affairs, preparing for the upcoming G7 summit scheduled to take place in Alberta, Canada. This transition underscores the balancing act between personal family milestones and the demands of leading a nation.
The union between Dong-ho and Ms. Kim not only represents a joining of two families but also strengthens ties within the Chungcheong region, as President Lee's family connections already include in-laws from Chungju, North Chungcheong Province. This regional linkage has been noted by observers as a symbolically meaningful alliance, reinforcing the president's roots in the area.
Despite the private nature of the ceremony, the wedding has drawn significant public and political attention, reflecting the intersection of personal life and public responsibility in the lives of national leaders. The careful management of the event, from security to guest list, illustrates the sensitivity surrounding such occasions for sitting presidents.
As the celebrations concluded, the focus swiftly returned to governance and diplomacy, with President Lee preparing for his role on the global stage while cherishing this personal milestone within his family.
