Tak Hyun-min, on Controversy Over Privileges for Close Associates at Blue House Event: "Due to Security..."

Controversy Over Close Associate's Agency Solely Securing 청 Event
Tak: "Are You Asking to Disclose All Presidential Routes and Details?"

Tak Hyun-min, Protocol Secretary at the Blue House

Tak Hyun-min, the Blue House Protocol Secretary, denied on the 1st that a planning company operated by his close associate received preferential treatment in securing Blue House events, stating that it was due to security reasons for presidential events.

On the morning of the same day, Secretary Tak posted on his Facebook, arguing, "Does the SBS report imply that security elements are unimportant, so the routes and locations of presidential events should be fully disclosed in advance, and in the case of overseas visits, whether the foreign head of state attends should also be publicly revealed without concern?"

He also said, "Are we supposed to get comparative estimates from two or more companies unrelated to the chief director's intent, then, without any site inspection, within 15 days, organize a team consisting of Hallyu stars, overseas venues, and foreign performers, produce a great video, and complete everything without any accidents?"

He explained that due to security reasons, including the president's attendance, it was difficult to obtain contracts from two or more parties, and since it was a large-scale event held overseas, a site inspection two months prior was unavoidable.

The previous day, SBS reported that 'No Boundary,' a planning company established by Secretary Tak's close associate, was suspected of preferential treatment while managing the 'K-pop Concert' held locally during President Moon Jae-in's visit to Norway in June last year.

On June 11 last year, during President Moon Jae-in's visit to Norway, a 'K-pop Concert' was held locally.

According to SBS, the Korean Embassy in Norway entrusted the planning of this concert and the following day's Korean music performance to 'No Boundary,' a company founded by Secretary Tak's close associate, for 543 million KRW.

Due to security reasons such as the president's attendance, the contract was made through a private contract, but the problem was that the embassy only received an estimate from No Boundary.

According to Article 30 of the Enforcement Decree of the State Contract Act, even in private contracts, except for some cases where there is only one producer of goods, estimates must be obtained from two or more parties.

An embassy official explained to SBS, "The event schedule was confirmed about three weeks before the president's visit, so time was tight."

SBS claimed, "The service result report states that No Boundary conducted a site inspection of the local venue starting April 10, two months before the event."

They also noted, "It was confirmed that Secretary Tak, who was an advisory member for presidential event planning at the time, accompanied the inspection," implying that Secretary Tak is at the center of the preferential treatment controversy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.