[2022 National Audit] "Presidential Office Proposed 'Cheongwadae Fashion Show' to Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism"

"'Proposal by Hamyeong-sik' Likely Related to First Lady Kim Geon-hee"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office has been confirmed to have proposed to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism the consideration of holding a fashion show event.

According to materials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Cultural Heritage Administration disclosed on the 24th by Jeon Jae-su, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee (Democratic Party), the Ministry received a proposal in June from the Presidential Secretariat (Management Secretary's Office) to hold the Seoul Fashion Week event and discussed related matters with the Cultural Heritage Administration over the phone. In response to related inquiries, the Ministry stated, "We were proposed to confirm the possibility of holding the Seoul Fashion Week event within the Blue House premises," adding, "The Ministry's Arts Policy Officer received this information verbally from the Presidential Secretariat, and there are no separate official documents or papers."

The reception for the event was not held at the Blue House. However, Assemblyman Jeon raised questions about the background of the 'directive-style proposal.' He said, "There must have been influence from Kim Geon-hee's side," and added, "The sponsor company for the fashion show event is Company B, which also sponsors Kobana Contents, and is related to Company A, which carried out remodeling work on the presidential residence."

Companies B and A are located in the same building. Their executives are almost the same. Company B's CEO, Mr. D, is known to be married to Company A's CEO, Mr. E. Mr. D also serves as an auditor for Company A. Company B mainly handles event management and fashion show production and planning. Their website portfolio highlights participation in Seoul Fashion Week, where Mr. D participated as a director.

Assemblyman Jeon believes that, circumstantially, Company B and Kim's side likely discussed holding Seoul Fashion Week at the Blue House and conveyed this to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. He emphasized, "Evidence of inappropriate involvement by the Presidential Office has emerged," and stressed, "The background for the consideration of the fashion show event must be clearly revealed."