"언행불일치" vs "지나치게 몰아세워" Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa's Husband Goes to the US, Mixed Public Opinion

"Living My Life My Way" - Private Lee, Yonsei University Emeritus Professor, Departs for the US on the 3rd
Minister Kang Kyung-wha: "I Apologize to the People"
Park Beom-gye: "Professor Lee Was Wrong, But Cannot Accept Minister's Responsibility"
Kim Ki-hyun: "If Minister Doesn't Take Responsibility, Who Will?"
Some Citizens: "Because of People Like Professor Lee, COVID-19 Won't End" Outraged

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul on the afternoon of the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Amid growing controversy surrounding the spouse of Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa, who traveled to the United States despite advisories to refrain from overseas travel, a heated debate over Minister Kang's responsibility, which began in political circles, is spreading to public opinion.

Earlier on the 3rd, Professor Emeritus Lee Il-byeong of Yonsei University, the spouse of Minister Kang, departed for the United States to purchase a yacht and for leisure travel. At the departure hall of Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport, Professor Lee told KBS reporters, "I am going on a leisure trip," adding, "COVID-19 is not going to disappear in a day or two. We cannot just stay at home all the time."

Regarding this issue, political circles have shown differing opinions linked to Minister Kang's responsibility. The ruling party acknowledged that Professor Lee's actions were inappropriate but considered it unreasonable to hold Minister Kang publicly accountable. In contrast, the opposition party argued that since the government issued advisories at the national level, the fact that a public official's family did not comply means Minister Kang bears public responsibility.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reissued a "Special Travel Advisory for All Countries and Regions" on the 18th of last month. This special travel advisory, issued for the third time since its initial release on March 23, recommends behavioral guidelines equivalent to travel alert levels 2 to 3.

On the 5th, Park Beom-gye, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" and said, "Connecting (Professor Lee's departure to the US) to public responsibility and attacking Minister Kang is unacceptable," adding, "Minister Kang has expressed regret. I think that is sufficient."

On the other hand, Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party who appeared on the same program, countered, "From the standpoint of the Foreign Minister urging restraint on travel, is it really in line with public sentiment for her spouse to act this way?" He added, "While the public is being told not even to visit their parents' graves, if the Foreign Minister's spouse goes on a luxury trip and this is dismissed as a personal matter, issues of privilege and unfairness inevitably arise."

Kim questioned, "If this were an ordinary citizen, there would be no problem, but isn't she a sitting minister?" and asked, "If the minister does not take responsibility, then who will?"

Minister Kang Kyung-wha (right) and her husband, Professor Lee Il-byeong, attending the appointment ceremony of Minister Kang Kyung-wha at the Blue House in 2017. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The controversy surrounding Professor Lee's trip to the United States has sparked conflict not only in political circles but also among citizens. From the perspective of citizens who refrained from visiting their hometowns and traveling during the Chuseok holiday to comply with government-issued COVID-19 guidelines, it is difficult to understand. Conversely, some believe linking this issue to Minister Kang's public responsibility is unreasonable.

A 27-year-old female office worker, Ms. Han, said, "During last Chuseok, I visited my grandmother in a nursing home but could only greet her through a window and then left," adding, "In a situation where everyone is trying to prevent the spread of COVID-19, going on an overseas trip out of personal desire is outrageous."

Ms. Han emphasized, "Some people endured staying at home despite frustration and could not properly enjoy good weather, so defending this by saying 'it's not illegal' is irresponsible," and added, "Minister Kang should take direct responsibility since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs repeatedly emphasized refraining from travel, not just offer a simple apology."

A 25-year-old female job seeker, Ms. Lee, said, "The part that Minister Kang and her husband should apologize for to the people who turned away from them is the attitude shown just before departure," pointing out, "Professor Lee said, 'COVID-19 won't end in a day or two,' but it is because of people like him who do not follow the government's guidelines that it does not end."

She continued, "I think Minister Kang is not unrelated to this incident," and said, "As a public official, she emphasized quarantine rules to the public but her family went on an overseas trip, so she should take responsibility for this inconsistency."

On the other hand, some citizens acknowledge that Professor Lee's overseas departure was wrong but consider linking it to Minister Kang's public responsibility as unreasonable.

A 26-year-old male office worker, Mr. Kim, said, "Minister Kang did not go herself, and Professor Lee left for overseas travel according to his own will, so the excessive criticism seems unfair," adding, "She apologized as a public official, so I don't understand what more responsibility is being demanded." He added, "Since Minister Kang's husband is also socially accountable, it should be an issue where the individual is criticized."

Meanwhile, as criticism against Professor Lee intensified, Minister Kang said at a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 4th, "I feel sorry to the public as this happened while the public is refraining from overseas travel and other external activities."

She added, "He (my husband) is well aware of the situation, and I have explained it, but ultimately he made the decision to leave, and I feel sorry regardless."

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