<img alt="A scene from the construction of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Reporter Park Jong-sik anaki@hani.co.kr” class=”thumb_g_article” data-org-src=”https://t1.daumcdn.net/news/202409/13/hani/20240913050514257ggpq.jpg” data-org-width=”970″ dmcf-mid=”zN8snfkP4G” dmcf-mtype=”image” height=”auto” src=”https://img2.daumcdn.net/thumb/R658x0.q70/?fname=https://t1.daumcdn.net/news/202409/13/hani/20240913050514257ggpq.jpg” width=”658″/>
A scene from the construction of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Reporter Park Jong-sik anaki@hani.co.kr
Even if we only look at the audit report of the Board of Audit and Inspection, which only gave a slap on the wrist regarding the construction of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, where the final inspection report was found to have been fabricated, numerous illegal and unlawful cases are confirmed. Most of them started from 21 Grams, a company related to First Lady Kim Kun-hee.
The Framework Act on the Construction Industry divides construction into general construction, which can do all types of construction including extensions, and specialized construction, which can only do specific fields. 21 Grams is a specialized construction company that can only do interior construction (interior architecture work). It is illegal to do extensions or structural reinforcement work for the official residence. However, it is said that 21 Grams had been planning the construction including the extension from the beginning. A source familiar with the details of the construction told Hankyoreh that from the beginning of the construction, 21 Grams had a plan to create an “additional dressing room” in addition to the one in the existing Ministry of Foreign Affairs residence. It is said that structural changes were made later, such as adding a sauna room.
The one who put the brakes on the illegal activity was a civil servant belonging to the ‘Office of the President’. In the audit report on the relocation of the official residence released on the 12th, the Board of Audit and Inspection only stated that he was the ‘Office of the President Construction Supervision Administrative Officer (Construction Supervisor)’. When Hankyoreh checked with audit officials and others, it was found that this person was not an internal employee of the Office of the President, but a civil servant dispatched to the Office of the President by the Government Complex Management Headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to supervise the construction. He responded to the Board of Audit and Inspection, saying, “I told him that the extension was drawn in the drawing confirmed in mid-May 2022, so the construction could not be done with only the interior construction work. I clearly told him not to do any construction that could not be done with a 21-gram license.” Regarding the second contract, this dispatched civil servant also expressed his opinion, saying, “It does not make sense to treat construction already performed by a specialized construction company as being done through a general construction company that came in later.”
21 Grams needed a company with a general construction license for the expansion. 21 Grams directly recruited ㅇ General Construction in Jeju. Suspicions arose that this was a “licensed company” brought in to cover up the fact that 21 Grams was illegally involved in the expansion. In fact, ㅇ General Construction did not even show up at the official residence construction site. Instead, a company run by the older brother of ㅇ General Construction’s CEO in Seoul took charge of the residence expansion construction. This company, like 21 Grams, was a specialized construction company, so the illegal situation could not be resolved.
21 Grams subcontracted the interior construction of the official residence to 37 companies (including partner companies). The mechanical and equipment construction was carried out by 6 companies that had business relationships with 21 Grams. Some companies also participated in the structural reinforcement and expansion work. Of the total companies, 19 were unregistered companies.
The audit report continuously shows situations where construction was done first and contracts and designs were done later. It is said that when 21 Grams and related companies did construction, they would later draw up drawings and write up detailed accounts. Various detailed accounts were arbitrarily written up after the fact, according to the amount, etc. A lawyer who is well-versed in procurement affairs pointed out that “all documents related to the Public Procurement Service were written falsely.”
The presidential residence, where the president of a country resides and where state guests visit, was built on illegal grounds. Earlier, on the 6th, when the results of a partial audit were first reported, the presidential office issued an explanation that “the relocation of the presidential office was done by the previous government.” All illegal matters related to the expansion of the residence were carried out by the current government.
Reporters Kim Nam-il and Shin Hyeong-cheol namfic@hani.co.kr
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New presidential residence of South Korea
Table of Contents
The Presidential Residence of South Korea: A Symbol of Controversy and Illegal Activities
The Presidential Residence of South Korea, located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, has been at the center of controversy and illegal activities surrounding its construction. The residence, which is the official home and office of the President of South Korea, has been plagued by allegations of wrongdoing and fraud, stirring up a heated debate in the country.
History of the Presidential Residence
The Presidential Residence of South Korea has a rich history dating back to 1948, when Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House) was established as the official office and residence of the President [[3]]. However, in 2022, the Presidential Residence was relocated to a new building in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The new building, which was opened in November 2003, covers an area of 276,000 square meters [[2]].
Controversy Surrounding the Construction
The construction of the new Presidential Residence has been marred by controversy and illegal activities. According to an audit report, 21 Grams, a company related to First Lady Kim Kun-hee, was involved in illegal construction activities, including extensions and structural reinforcement work, which is not permitted for specialized construction companies like 21 Grams [[1]]. Furthermore, it was found that 21 Grams subcontracted the interior construction of the official residence to 37 companies, including 19 unregistered companies, and that construction was often done before contracts and designs were finalized.
Illegal Activities
Several illegal activities were uncovered during the audit, including the fabrication of the final inspection report, falsification of documents related to the Public Procurement Service, and the use of unregistered companies. These activities have raised serious concerns about the transparency and accountability of the construction process.
Role of 21 Grams
21 Grams, a specialized construction company, was at the center of the controversy. The company was found to have planned the construction, including extensions and structural reinforcement work, from the beginning, despite not having the necessary licenses. 21
New presidential residence of South Korea
Controversy Surrounds the Construction of South Korea’s Presidential Residence
The construction of South Korea’s presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, has been marred by allegations of illegal and unlawful activities. The Board of Audit and Inspection’s audit report revealed numerous instances of wrongdoing, with most of them linked to 21 Grams, a company connected to First Lady Kim Kun-hee [[2]]. This article delves into the controversy surrounding the construction of the presidential residence and the role of 21 Grams in the scandal.
The Illegal Activities of 21 Grams
21 Grams, a specialized construction company, was only licensed to perform interior construction (interior architecture work) [[3]]. However, it is alleged that the company had been planning the construction, including the extension, from the beginning. A source familiar with the details of the construction revealed that 21 Grams had a plan to create an “additional dressing room” in addition to the one in the existing Ministry of Foreign Affairs residence. Structural changes were later made, including the addition of a sauna room.
The Role of the Civil Servant
A civil servant dispatched to the Office of the President by the Government Complex Management Headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to supervise the construction was the one who put the brakes on the illegal activity [[3]]. The civil servant, who was not an internal employee of the Office of the President, responded to the Board of Audit and Inspection, stating that he had told 21 Grams that the extension was drawn in the drawing confirmed in mid-May 2022 and that the construction could not be done with only the interior construction work.
The Involvement of General Construction
21 Grams needed a company with a general construction license for the expansion. The company directly recruited General Construction in Jeju, leading to suspicions that this was a “licensed company” brought in to cover up the fact that 21 Grams was illegally involved in the expansion [[3]]. However, General Construction did not even show up at the official residence construction site. Instead, a company run by the older brother of General Construction’s CEO in Seoul took charge of the residence expansion construction. This company, like 21 Grams, was a specialized construction company, and the illegal situation could not be resolved.
The Relocation of the Presidential Office
The controversy surrounding the construction of the presidential residence is not an isolated incident. In 2017, South Korea’s ousted President Park Geun-hye left the executive mansion, two days after the Constitutional Court voted to remove her from office [[1]]. The relocation of the presidential office from Chung Wa Dae (Blue House) to a Defense Ministry complex was one of the key promises of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in 2022 [[3]]. However, the controversy surrounding the construction of the presidential residence has added fuel to the fire, raising concerns about the transparency and accountability of the government.
the construction of South Korea’s presidential residence has been marred by allegations of illegal and unlawful activities. The involvement of 21 Grams, a company connected to First Lady Kim Kun-hee, has raised eyebrows, and the role of the civil servant in putting the brakes on the illegal activity has been commendable. However, the controversy surrounding the construction of the presidential residence highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the government’s dealings.
References:
<a href="https://jpinyu.com/2022/12/27
