Kim Jeong-suk 'Clothing Cost Controversy' Questioned... Kim Geon-hee "I Always Buy Luxury Goods with My Own Money"

"Knows Well How to Make Money... Will Not Waste 국민 Taxes"

Photo by First Lady Kim Keon-hee, posted on her Instagram account on the 4th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kim Gunhee, the spouse of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, stated, "If I wear luxury goods, I will definitely purchase them with my own money."

On the 20th, 'Monthly Chosun' reported that Kim said in a written response, "I know better than anyone how hard it is to earn money. I will never waste taxpayers' money," expressing this stance.

Previously, Monthly Chosun requested several interviews with Kim before and after the presidential election, but she reportedly continuously declined, saying she was "not in a position to give interviews." However, Kim did send a message only in response to questions regarding the so-called "clothing expense controversy" involving First Lady Kim Jung-sook.

The clothing expense controversy arose when the Korea Taxpayers' Federation (Napseja Yeonmaeng) filed requests for information disclosure to the Blue House in June and July 2018, respectively, seeking details on "the dates, amounts, reasons, recipients, and methods of special activity expenses disbursed after President Moon Jae-in's inauguration" and "protocol expenses for the President and First Lady Kim Jung-sook."

Im Muhyeok, Head of External Cooperation Team at the Taxpayers' Federation, is speaking about the verdict after the first trial hearing of the lawsuit to cancel the refusal of information disclosure filed against the Presidential Secretariat at the Seoul Administrative Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of February 10. / Photo by Yonhap News

At that time, the Blue House refused to disclose the information citing national security reasons, and the Taxpayers' Federation filed an administrative lawsuit, winning the first trial on February 1.

However, as the Blue House appealed the court ruling, some raised suspicions that "the clothing expenses of First Lady Kim Jung-sook might have been paid from special activity expenses."

In response, the Blue House explained that the clothing purchases for First Lady Kim Jung-sook were paid from personal funds, not special activity expenses.

Shin Hye-hyun, deputy spokesperson of the Blue House, stated at a briefing on the 29th of last month, "There are baseless claims that special activity expenses were used for First Lady Kim Jung-sook's official event attire, but this is completely untrue," adding, "For official activities such as state summits, state visits abroad, and hosting foreign dignitaries, protocol expenses for the head of state and the First Lady are strictly supported at a minimal necessary level through internal procedures as part of event ancillary costs."

Meanwhile, although Kim has not yet made any official public appearances, she has recently been seen active near her residence in Seocho-dong, Seoul.

On the 4th, she posted a photo on her Instagram account wearing a simple outfit consisting of a hoodie, jeans, and slippers, accompanied by a police dog.

On the 17th, she also shared images of walking in Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul with President-elect Yoon and their pet dog "Tori."

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