Controversy Over 'Self-Awarding' Met with Active Response from Blue House: "It Is Not Self-Awarding" (Comprehensive)

On the 26th, when the concentration of ultrafine dust showed a 'bad' level due to stagnant air, the Blue House in Seoul appeared hazy. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in is expected to receive the Mugunghwa Order of Military Merit, which has sparked controversy over former presidents ‘self-awarding’ it before leaving office. The Blue House responded by saying, "Former presidents have done this too," indicating there is no problem.

A Blue House official stated on the 15th, "The Mugunghwa Order of Military Merit is designed to be awarded to sitting presidents, so it is only received while in office," and rebutted the controversy by asking, "Are you saying only President Moon ‘self-awarded’ it?"

The Mugunghwa Order of Military Merit is the highest order under the Awards Act, awarded to the president, allied heads of state or their spouses, or former allied heads of state with clear contributions to the development and security of our country. The production cost is about 68 million KRW per set, and it takes over two months to produce.

Especially since only presidents can receive it, the ‘self-awarding’ controversy has never ceased. Until former President Kim Dae-jung, the order was received immediately upon inauguration, and before the civilian government, new presidents wore the order and attended the inauguration ceremony.

Former President Roh Moo-hyun was the first to change the timing to the end of the term, and former President Lee Myung-bak also delayed receiving the order until early 2013, when his term ended. However, former President Park Geun-hye received the Mugunghwa Order of Military Merit on the third day of her inauguration. The Blue House stated, "It is not a violation of the law," and considers it not a major issue.

Blue House Senior Secretary for Public Communication Park Soo-hyun also addressed the ‘self-awarding’ controversy through a fact-check series titled 'This is the Fact.'

Senior Secretary Park pointed out that the Mugunghwa Order of Military Merit is not a ‘self-award’ but a legal enforcement matter under Article 10 of the Awards Act, and criticized recent media reports for causing misunderstandings that it is an order that one requests and receives unnecessarily.

Article 10 of the Awards Act stipulates that "The Mugunghwa Order of Military Merit is the highest order of our country and is awarded to the president, the president’s spouse, allied heads of state and their spouses, or former allied heads of state and their spouses who have made clear contributions to the development and security of our country."

Senior Secretary Park explained, "Regarding the timing of awarding, almost all presidents from the first President Rhee Syngman received it early in their terms, and only Presidents Roh and Lee received it at the end of their terms. Since President Moon did not receive it early in his term, considering the cases of former presidents, it is inevitable to consider awarding it at the end of his term."

Senior Secretary Park criticized, "Are you saying President Moon has contributed nothing to the Republic of Korea and should ignore the provisions of the Awards Act and not receive it himself?" and urged, "The media should clarify the point of their claims."