Angry at the 'BTS Passion Pay' Controversy, Tak Hyun-min Says "The Tiresome Issue Repeats Again"

President Moon Jae-in and the group BTS had a conversation before an interview with ABC News at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, on the afternoon of the 21st (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Tak Hyun-min, the Protocol Secretary at the Blue House, expressed anger toward the political circles and media that raised suspicions that BTS, who accompanied President Moon Jae-in on his business trip to New York as a presidential special envoy, did not receive travel expenses, saying, "They still do not understand what kind of world we live in these days."

On the afternoon of the 30th, Secretary Tak posted on his Facebook, "The Chosun Ilbo published a malicious false report, and some politicians took that content and expanded and reproduced it... These tiresome incidents have repeated once again."

He said, "Personally, I do not even know how much value the Republic of Korea should pay BTS for their hard work during the recent UN tour event, but since government work follows set principles and regulations, it is always that amount, and I feel sorry about that."

He continued, "Contrary to the false reports and claims based on them, the expenses within the regulations related to BTS's participation in the tour event have already been paid," adding, "Although I still feel sorry that we could only do that much, the airfare, accommodation, and meal expenses for the special envoys and staff were supported in a post-settlement format, and the amount was also agreed upon in advance."

He further explained, "This cost is the maximum amount the government can provide within the regulations, and it is obvious that this is not a fair compensation for their dedication and hard work," adding, "If the activities of the special envoys were calculated at ordinary appearance fees, it would be at least several billion won, which the government could not afford under the regulations."

He said, "However, fortunately and apologetically, neither the agency nor the special envoys wanted such an amount. Rather, they expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute," adding, "From the government's perspective, gratitude for their efforts is already insufficient, and I really do not know when the media and political circles will correct their bad habit of disparaging the presidential special envoys and the government with baseless lies and ignorance."

Regarding the suspicion that BTS, who attended the 76th United Nations General Assembly as special presidential envoys, did not receive travel expenses, Tak Hyun-min, the Blue House Protocol Secretary, posted a critical message on his Facebook on the 30th. Photo by Secretary Tak (Facebook capture).

Meanwhile, the controversy mentioned by Secretary Tak arose when, earlier that morning, the media raised the so-called 'passion pay' suspicion that BTS, who attended the 76th UN General Assembly as presidential special envoys, did not receive travel expenses.

As the controversy spread, the Blue House rebutted that the settlement had already been completed. The Blue House stated, "The airfare and accommodation costs for the special envoy group who accompanied the recent tour were processed in a post-settlement format and have already been settled," adding, "This was a matter agreed upon in advance between the government and HYBE (the agency)."

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