Jeon Yeo-ok, Kim Jung-sook on 'Clothing Cost' Controversy: "Public Sentiment is Boiling... The People are So Unfairly Treated and Frustrated"

Jeon Yeo-ok, former Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker Jeon Yeok sharply criticized the controversy over the clothing expenses and protocol costs of First Lady Kim Jung-sook, wife of President Moon Jae-in, on the 4th, saying, "The people are so aggrieved, frustrated, and shocked that this is why."

On that day, in a post on her Facebook, former lawmaker Jeon said, "The Moon Jae-in administration completely ruined South Korea over the past five years. The president should protect the lives and property of the people. But from security to livelihood, it was truly 'five years of nuisance.'"

She continued, "The Blue House's perspective is 'Why all the fuss over Mrs. Kim's clothing expenses?' but the people are so aggrieved, frustrated, and shocked that this is why," criticizing the administration.

She added, "People are hurt by Mrs. Kim's excessive luxury and extravagance," and claimed, "But President Moon seems unaware of this point."

Former lawmaker Jeon pointed out, "Public sentiment is boiling over 'Mrs. Kim's clothing expenses,' yet in a closed-door advisory meeting, they asked, 'How is the hydrogen ship situation?'" and questioned, "Is this a 'sage show' of taking care of state affairs to the very end?"

She also said, "Park Soo-hyun, the Blue House Chief of Public Communication, is struggling hard today to defend the 'ultra-luxurious clothing expenses,'" and directly attacked, "'If she were not the president's wife, this money wouldn't have had to be spent,' but who forced or coerced the president's wife?"

Furthermore, former lawmaker Jeon added, "Even during the election period, Mrs. Kim published a book titled 'Accidental First Lady'."

First Lady Kim Jung-sook, wife of President Moon Jae-in, is speaking at a meeting with Egyptian Korean culture promotion experts held at a hotel in Cairo, Egypt, last January. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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Earlier, Chief Park said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that he did not know "what more needed to be proven" regarding the ongoing controversy over Mrs. Kim's clothing expenses.

He said, "At first, the essence of this issue was 'Were clothing expenses paid with special activity funds?' and the Blue House officially announced, 'No, special activity funds were not used; the clothing expenses were personal funds,'" and questioned, "If it was personal funds, shouldn't those who insisted otherwise apologize?"

He continued, "If it were not the president and the first lady, there are many expenses that wouldn't have had to be spent," and emphasized, "While saving on special activity funds, the use of personal funds is at least something that, if not praised, should be understood as 'I see how it is.'"

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