Kim Eo-jun "President Yoon working 24 hours? Is buying shoes at a department store also considered work?"

Presidential Office "No Truth to Tardiness... President Works 24 Hours"
Kim Eo-jun "24-Hour Work True When Inside Blue House... President Yoon Commutes"

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun. Photo by tbs

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun criticized the presidential office's explanation regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'tardiness controversy,' which stated that "the president has no concept of commuting and works 24 hours a day," by asking, "Is buying shoes at a department store also considered working?"

On the 16th, Kim, on his TBS radio show 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' addressed the previous day's briefing by presidential office spokesperson Kang In-sun, saying, "That statement is correct when the president was at the Blue House," and questioned, "Since he is always on the premises, there is no commuting, but doesn't President Yoon commute to and from work in the morning and evening?"

Kim continued, "If President Yoon commutes from his home to the office, how can it be said that he does not commute?" He also said, "President Yoon arrived in Yongsan after 9 a.m. twice last week, so how can that not be called tardiness?" This referred to claims by some that the president arrived at work after 9 a.m. on two days during his first week in office.

Kim then mentioned President Yoon's visit to a department store last weekend with First Lady Kim Geon-hee for shopping. He pointed out, "The idea of the president working 24 hours is a mindset, but then is buying shoes at a department store on the weekend also considered working? That is not convincing." He added, "Although the weekend department store shopping might have been intended to emphasize the image of an ordinary daily life and a personable president after work, it does not align with the explanation of 24-hour work. It is unconvincing," strongly criticizing again.

Additionally, Kim said, "North Korea fired missiles three times in a row, but conservative media called the internal meeting of a few NSC staff members a 'hardline response,'" and sharply remarked, "If you lie, at least do it moderately."

Meanwhile, presidential office spokesperson Kang In-sun stated in a briefing the previous day, "The claim of President Yoon's tardiness is not true." Kang rebutted, "The public has been watching the president's movements, including his commuting, in real time since his inauguration," and said, "The claim that the president is tardy while answering reporters' questions every morning on his way to work is absurd."

Kang emphasized, "Some reports that the president left early during North Korea's missile provocation on the 12th have already been declared fake news. On that day, the president received reports at the office until late in the evening," adding, "The president's work does not stop 24 hours a day, and the concept of commuting itself does not exist."