In response to Kim Geon-hee's accessory criticism by the opposition... Park Ji-won says "The public will understand the 62 million won necklace"

Park Ji-won "Thinks Kim Geon-hee Has the Jewels"
Presidential Office "Jewelry Borrowed from an Acquaintance"

President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee are applauding at the Korean community dinner meeting held at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Hotel in Madrid, Spain, on the 29th (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gunchan] Amid ongoing criticism from opposition parties that the jewelry worn by First Lady Kim Keon-hee during her overseas trips was omitted from President Yoon Suk-yeol's asset declaration, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won said, "Even if she owns a necklace worth 62 million won, the public would understand." The presidential office reiterated its previous stance that the items were "borrowed from an acquaintance."

On the 31st, former Director Park appeared on KBS's "Yeouido Sasageon-geon" and said, "Isn't Kim Keon-hee a wealthy and stylish person who plans art exhibitions? I believe she owns the jewelry."

He continued, "But she borrowed them locally in Spain. Then they say she borrowed some from an acquaintance in Korea and bought one? If Kim Keon-hee says now, 'I owned them, but I made a mistake by omitting them from the asset declaration, and I apologize,' and then declares them, that would be fine," he advised.

He added, "The president's wife borrowing expensive jewelry from an acquaintance to wear? That can't be. I think the public would understand even if Kim Keon-hee owns a necklace worth 62 million won. I also bought expensive jewelry for my wife and declared it. Isn't that what everyone does?"

He also said, "Geniuses seem to be gathered in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, taking such a difficult path," and added, "If the Democratic Party digs into this, they really won't be able to stand it. Just admit the omission in the asset declaration, apologize, and then declare it. That's the end of it."

The opposition continues its offensive regarding this issue. On the afternoon of the 31st, Lee Su-jin, the floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, said in a briefing, "Even if the presidential office's explanation that the expensive jewelry worn by the First Lady was borrowed from an acquaintance is true, it is problematic in itself," and criticized, "It is the same logic as if the president's spouse borrowed an expensive foreign car from an acquaintance."

She added, "The president and his spouse must be strict about private relationships," and said, "It is shocking that the presidential office, which supports the president and his spouse, lacks even this basic common sense."

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom also pointed out on his Facebook on the same day, "Even if we concede that the necklace worn locally was borrowed, then was the 16 million won Cartier bracelet, which was seen at official events such as the inauguration and early voting and was even reported in articles as 'Kim Keon-hee's signature item,' also borrowed?" He questioned, "And was the 26 million won Tiffany brooch, worn from just before the overseas trip departure, borrowed locally at Seoul Airport?"

The presidential office dismissed various suspicions raised by the opposition. A presidential office official met with reporters at the Yongsan office on the 31st and reaffirmed the previous position that the First Lady's jewelry was borrowed from an acquaintance.

Earlier, the Presidential Office Secretariat explained that in response to a query from Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi on the 30th, they answered, "Of the three pieces of jewelry worn by the First Lady, two were borrowed from an acquaintance. One was purchased from a small business owner, and the amount does not fall under the reporting requirement."

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