Civic Group Files Police Complaint Against Kim Jung-sook for Embezzlement Amid 'Protocol Expense' Controversy

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[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] A civic group has filed a complaint with the police against Kim Jung-sook, the wife of President Moon Jae-in. The related controversy, sparked by the Blue House's appeal against the first trial court's ruling to disclose the special activity expenses including protocol costs of Mrs. Kim, has led to a report to the investigative authorities.

The civic group, the Committee for the Protection of Ordinary People's Livelihoods, announced on the 28th that it had reported Mrs. Kim to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on charges including embezzlement in the course of duty. The group claimed, "Using the status of the First Lady, she forced the person in charge of disbursing the Blue House's special activity expenses to purchase hundreds of high-priced luxury clothing items and accessories worth hundreds of millions of won," adding, "This constitutes a serious crime of embezzlement in the course of duty and instigating violations of Article 5 (Loss of National Treasury, etc.) of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes." They further emphasized, "It is a natural right permitted by law for taxpayers to know the details of special activity expenses used with their taxes," and criticized, "The Blue House's appeal against the request to disclose special activity expenses is shameless."

Previously, the controversy over Mrs. Kim's special activity expenses arose when the Seoul Administrative Court's Administrative Division 5 (Chief Judge Jung Sang-gyu) on the 10th of last month canceled the decision made in July 2018 to withhold information and ruled to disclose some information to the Taxpayers' Federation. The Blue House appealed, escalating the issue. The case has moved to the appellate court, but it is expected that a result will not be reached before President Moon's term ends on May 9. After the term ends, related materials are designated as presidential designated records, making disclosure difficult. Presidential designated records are kept confidential for up to 15 years, and records related to private life are kept confidential for 30 years.

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