A hand supporting the arm, a president holding an umbrella - the quiet companionship of Kim Hye-kyung

An umbrella for one person

In June 2025, after the G7 summit in Calgary, Canada, President Lee Jae-myung was captured climbing the stairs with his wife, Kim Hye-kyung, under an umbrella in front of Air Force One. Observing their moment, it was a serene and humanizing instance that made one forget the tension of a global event. It was somewhat unfamiliar to see the president holding the umbrella himself, but the most touching aspect was that Kim Hye-kyung was carefully supporting her husband’s arm. Despite the strong wind, security personnel, and numerous cameras, the small interaction between the two took center stage in that moment. This photo seems to encapsulate the president's life in a single frame.

Broken arm, unrelenting hand

President Lee Jae-myung's arm is not an ordinary arm. At twelve years old, he got his hand caught in an accident at a rubber factory in Seongnam, and that incident had a significant impact on his life. Doctors warned that he might not be able to use his arm properly, but he did not give up and studied the law with his arm, paving the way for workers. The traces of that accident have followed him throughout his life, and he has worked hard not to reveal that weakness. Even now, he struggles to hold an umbrella, but by his side is Kim Hye-kyung.

Hands that support without words

Kim Hye-kyung has known about President Lee Jae-myung's painful arm for a long time. Before their marriage, while waiting in the hallway for the surgery results, she chose to quietly support him instead of carrying the weight herself. Her way of communication involved gently touching him or nodding to help him stand on his own. She builds a high level of trust by not taking away his umbrella and ensuring that his balance is not disrupted even without conversation. The couple's relationship exemplifies a more meticulous definition of love, described as 'supportive companionship.'

Something older than the name of president

President Lee Jae-myung holds various political positions, but what is more precious than the different names he possesses is the time he has lived as an individual. He has grown through his own pains and hardships, and throughout this process, Kim Hye-kyung has always been by his side. Before becoming the 'First Lady,' she walked through life as his partner. Through their long journey together, their love has become stronger, and the image of them holding an umbrella in front of Air Force One on a rainy day illustrates the flow of long history and rhythm contained in just one photograph.

Rain we share, umbrella we hold together

People want to be someone's umbrella, and some hope for someone to lean against them. On the runway, President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung supported each other, feeling each other's presence like simple friends. Not as a matter of presidential responsibility, but as a pair of humans, they lifted their weak arms, and that was part of their everyday life filled with trust in each other. Love can be conveyed through a quiet presence rather than through overt words.

Epilogue: The Shape of Love

The rain soon stopped, and the door of the private jet closed as preparations for takeoff began. Many will remember that scene. It was a precious private moment behind a public facade, and the gesture of supporting each other's arms truly revealed deep love. The umbrella was not merely to shield from the rain. It quietly expressed trust in each other and the promise of continued companionship. Love holds profound meaning even within such simplicity.