by Kim Minyoung
Published 01 Jun.2024 19:46(KST)
The People Power Party continued its criticism of the controversy surrounding Kim Jung-sook, the wife of former President Moon Jae-in, during her visit to India in 2018.
Park Jun-tae, the party's floor spokesperson, issued a statement on the 1st, saying, "We demand the uncomfortable truth about the First Lady's solo diplomacy to be revealed," and added, "No matter how refined a gourmet or food lover one is, how could one possibly spend five years' worth of food expenses for a family of four in just four days?"
He continued, "The Democratic Party claims that 250,000 won per person would stimulate the household economy, yet remains silent about the waste of more than 250 times that amount of taxpayers' money," and stated, "We want to ask the Democratic Party whether it is acceptable to use taxpayers' money recklessly like marbles in a pocket."
Spokesperson Ho Jun-seok also stated in a comment, "Claiming it was the First Lady's first solo diplomatic mission, visiting India for three nights and four days on a presidential aircraft that even the president did not board was nothing more than a solo tour funded by taxpayers' money."
Spokesperson Ho added, "It is not only a clear case of 'self-invitation' and extravagantly spending taxpayers' money on a one-point Taj Mahal tour by private plane, but also packaging it as solo diplomacy is disrespectful to the public," and said, "It is time to be honest. The suspicions have reached an uncontrollable level, and now the public wants to know the truth."
According to materials disclosed by lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin the previous day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed a private contract worth 236.7 million won with Korean Air in November 2018 for Kim's India tour. The total number of passengers was 36, and the cost allocated for in-flight meals was 62.92 million won, which was the second highest expense after fuel costs (65.31 million won).
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