Minister Kang Kyung-wha Apologizes to the Public Over Husband's Controversy Regarding US Trip

Position Announced at the April 4th Department Head-Level Executive Meeting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha expressed her apology regarding the controversy over her husband, Yonsei University Professor Emeritus Lee Il-byeong's visit to the United States.

On the 4th, Minister Kang said at a meeting with department and bureau chiefs held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in the afternoon, "I feel sorry that this happened while the public is refraining from overseas travel and other external activities."

Professor Emeritus Lee, Kang’s husband, departed for the United States on the 3rd citing personal reasons.

In this context, criticism has been raised about the inappropriateness of the Foreign Minister’s spouse traveling abroad for yacht purchase and other reasons, especially since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the responsible department, had issued a 'special travel advisory' urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

KBS reported that on the 3rd, Professor Emeritus Lee Il-byeong boarded a flight to the United States at Incheon International Airport for yacht purchase and travel. When asked by KBS reporters about the purpose of his departure, he replied, "I'm just going on a trip. It's a free travel."

Regarding the criticism that the government recommended refraining from overseas travel, he said, "COVID-19 is not going to disappear in a day or two. So, you can't just stay at home all the time."

Professor Lee is expected to meet the seller in the United States to purchase a yacht and then travel overseas by yacht. He has posted such plans on his public blog for several months.

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