Kim Jung-sook's Brooch Maker: "Cartier? I Wore It Because It's a Korean Tiger"

First Lady Kim Jung-sook's Brooch Maker Posts Explanation
"Likes Being Called Olympic Mascot, Tiger from Minhwa"
"Once Revealed Not Cartier, Accused of Cheap Fake"

In July 2018, First Lady Kim Jung-sook is seen taking a commemorative photo with Indian international students before watching the Indian film "Dangal" at Ibom Theater in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. There were suspicions that the tiger brooch worn by the First Lady at the time was an expensive luxury item, but it was confirmed to be untrue. / Blue House Facebook

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Amid ongoing controversy over the clothing expenses of First Lady Kim Jung-sook, wife of President Moon Jae-in, the creator of the tiger-shaped brooch suspected to be a luxury 'Cartier' product has come forward to clarify.

Park, who revealed that he made the brooch, posted a lengthy message on Facebook on the 31st, beginning with, "I am neither conservative nor progressive. There are respected people in both camps, and I am an ordinary citizen who loves and is proud of my country."

Park explained that the brooch in question was created with the motif of a 'tiger' and was made as a product to be sold at a gallery opening. "It was ordered through a well-known accessory specialist buyer from Namdaemun Market, deciding on the stone, color, size, etc., and was prepared and purchased in bulk," he said. "At the time, the retail price was set between approximately 500,000 and 1,000,000 KRW per set, but none were sold due to the cancellation of the gallery opening plan."

He continued about how the brooch was delivered to the First Lady: "A certain designer, who was engaged in design activities using traditional Korean folk painting motifs, sponsored a few brooches that perfectly matched tiger-patterned jackets and dresses designed by them, and that designer also sponsored the dresses." He added, "After the fashion show, the designer returned to Korea, and as a token of gratitude, I gave two tiger brooches, one of which I understand was delivered to the First Lady."

Park said that a sensational headline about the 'Cartier brooch controversy' was reported through a media company's YouTube channel, and he requested the deletion of the video due to false content. However, "Despite my detailed explanation, the issue did not subside but grew bigger, and after it was revealed that it was not a Cartier luxury item, they shifted to calling it a 'cheap Cartier counterfeit,'" he said. "I am outraged by the media company's video that slanders the First Lady as someone who wears cheap counterfeits and portrays Namdaemun Market, the world's best, as a hotbed of fakes. I simply cannot stand by."

He added, "I never even dreamed of linking this to Cartier. The Winter Olympics mascot is also a tiger, and the First Lady gladly wore it, appreciating it despite it not being expensive or from a famous brand, because it is a large and magnificent tiger from our folk paintings." He questioned, "Is anything that looks like a tiger automatically Cartier? She liked it because it is a Korean tiger and the Olympic mascot, and India, like Korea, reveres the Bengal tiger, so why distort and criticize her for wearing it?"

Park concluded, "This situation, which has become the target of severe criticism due to terrifying distortions and slanders from political factionalism, leaves an indelible scar on those involved," and added, "As a citizen, I hope for a country united rather than divided into sides, and for everyone who has struggled through the past three years of COVID-19 to move forward with renewed hope."

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