S.Korea's First Lady returns to diplomatic spotlight amid mounting domestic pressure

South Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee holds a Turkmen shepherd dog during her visit with the host's first lady on June 10 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. - Pool photo via Yonhap

ASTANA, Kazakhstan: South Korea's First Lady Kim Keon-hee has embraced the diplomatic spotlight during President Yoon Suk-yeol's Central Asian trip, amid political pressure to investigate allegations she violated South Korea's antigraft law.

As Yoon and Kim are halfway through a trip involving state visits to three countries -- Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan -- Kim has expanded her public role as the first lady in a series of engagements highlighting cultural exchanges.