Presidential Office Responds to Kobana Private Hiring Controversy: "All Former Employees... Recently Resigned"

Two Presidential Office Staff from Kobana Accompany to Bongha Village
"Former Presidents Often Work with Familiar and Comfortable Colleagues in the Presidential Office"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Regarding the controversy that arose on the 15th over two former employees of Kobana Contents, which was operated by First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, now working under the Presidential Office, the Presidential Office stated, "They are all former employees and have no connection with Kobana Contents."

A Presidential Office official said at a briefing that day, "Not only the current president but also other (former) presidents often bring people they have worked with for a long time and know well to work closely with them in the Presidential Office."

When First Lady Kim visited Bongha Village in Gimhae on the 13th, the footage showed her accompanied by Kim, an adjunct professor in the Department of Dance at Chungnam National University and a former executive at Kobana, along with two Presidential Office staff members who had recently worked at Kobana.

On the way to work that day, President Yoon responded to reporters pointing out the visit to Bongha Village with Professor Kim and acquaintances, saying, "I know the person in the photo well; she is my wife's longtime friend from Busan," and added, "It seems she brought a lot of bread and such that the (Kwon Yang-suk) First Lady likes when visiting her."

He continued, "She seems to know a place in Busan that does those things well and guided her there," and said, "Isn't Bongha Village a place that all citizens can visit?"

The official explained, "In the photo from yesterday, four women appear. One is Professor Kim, and the other three are Presidential Office staff. One previously worked in a different field, one briefly worked at Kobana, and another also helped out at Kobana."

When asked by reporters, "Has any former First Lady ever hired people so privately?" the official replied, "There is some misunderstanding in saying they were hired privately."

There was also a question about whether it is difficult to consider the two employees as 'former employees' since Kobana Contents effectively closed at the end of last month and the two submitted their resignations collectively.

In response, the official said, "I understand they actually submitted their resignations at that time and recently left," but added, "Some media reports portray them as current (Kobana) employees, but I want to clarify they are not current employees."

He further stated, "Since these individuals are not dedicated staff for (First Lady Kim's work), they assist with tasks as needed."

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