◀ anchor ▶
When the allegation that ‘President Moon Jae-in’s wife Kim Jung-sook bought hundreds of millions of won worth of luxury accessories and clothes for special activities’ spread beyond the Internet and into the political realm, the Blue House countered that it was not true.
“All clothes were purchased with my own money, and the national budget was not used,” he said.
Reporter Um Ji-in reports.
◀ Report ▶
In July 2018, Ms. Kim Jung-sook watched a movie with international students in India.
A large leopard print ornament was worn on the collar.
There was a claim that it was a French luxury product worth hundreds of millions of won centered on the Internet community, and the people’s power lit up, saying, “Isn’t it because I bought it for special activities?”
[정미경 / 국민의힘 최고위원(지난 28일)]
“Is the brooch of Mrs. Kim Jeong-sook really worth over 200 million won, or ‘fake’ is about 20,000 won? What, then, is the real price of clothes a state secret…”
The possibility of ‘criminal punishment’ came up in conjunction with the recent appeal of the Blue House to a court ruling to disclose the details of Kim’s use of ceremonial expenses and special expenses.
[김재원(29일 CBS 김현정의 뉴스쇼)]
“Because not disclosing it arouses even more anger and causes criminal responsibility and even the issue of criminal punishment…”
In response, the Blue House refuted all the allegations raised as fake news.
The Blue House explained, “All costumes and accessories were purchased with my own money, and national budgets such as special expenses were not used.”
“I also donated or returned the costumes that were supported during the overseas tour,” he said.
In fact, the ‘luxury jacket engraved with Korean’ worn during a state visit to France in 2018 is currently open to the public at the National Hangeul Museum.
He also said that the minimum cost of the first lady is supported when attending summit meetings or state visits, but clothes are not included.
The Blue House believes that it is intended to damage the morality of President Moon and his wife, using the fact that it is difficult to disclose special expenses for reasons such as diplomacy and security.
The Democratic Party also strongly criticized it, saying, “It is irresponsible for the power of the people who cannot know this to become a political issue.”
[조오섭 / 더불어민주당 대변인]
“It’s really deplorable that there is an act of instigating a controversy close to black propaganda without any basis.”
It is reported that President Moon also ordered his aides to ‘strictly respond to matters that are not true.’
This is Umji-in from MBC News.
Video coverage: Koo Bon-won / Video editing: Shin Jae-ran
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