Police Launch Investigation into Kim Jung-sook's 'Clothing Cost Controversy'... Assigned to Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The police have launched a full-scale investigation into the case involving the disclosure of protocol expenses of First Lady Kim Jung-sook, wife of President Moon Jae-in.

On the 29th, according to the police, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency assigned the case, in which the civic group Seomin Minsaeng Countermeasure Committee filed a complaint against First Lady Kim on charges including embezzlement in the course of duty, to the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Police Agency. A full-scale investigation into the complaint is expected to proceed.

The Seomin Minsaeng Countermeasure Committee filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency the previous day, accusing First Lady Kim of embezzlement in the course of duty and other charges. The group claimed, "Using her position as First Lady, she forced the person in charge of the Blue House’s special activity funds to purchase hundreds of expensive 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 violation of Article 5 (Loss of National Treasury, etc.) of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes by instigating such acts." They further emphasized, "It is a natural right permitted by law for taxpayers to know how special activity funds are used," and criticized, "The Blue House’s appeal against the request to disclose special activity funds is shameless." The controversy, which flared up after the Blue House appealed the first-instance court ruling ordering the disclosure of First Lady Kim’s protocol expenses and other special activity funds, has now led to a police complaint.

Previously, the controversy over First Lady Kim’s special activity funds arose when, on the 10th of last month, the Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 5 (Chief Judge Jung Sang-gyu) canceled the decision made in July 2018 to withhold information and ruled to disclose some information to the Taxpayers Federation. The Blue House appealed this ruling, 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 will be designated as presidential records, making disclosure difficult. Presidential records are kept confidential for up to 15 years, and records related to private life are kept confidential for 30 years.

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