[2022 National Audit] Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: "Presidential Office Cheongwadae Fashion Show Proposal, Groundless" (Comprehensive)

Jeon Jae-su MP "Proposed by the Presidential Secretariat from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in June"
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism "Seoul City originally proposed holding the event within the Cheong Wa Dae grounds to the Cultural Heritage Administration"

On the 26th, citizens visiting Cheongwadae in Jongno-gu, Seoul, are touring the interior of the main building. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The Presidential Office has been accused of proposing to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) to consider hosting a fashion show event. The MCST denied the claim, calling it groundless.

On the 24th, Jeon Jae-su, a member of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the Democratic Party, claimed based on materials from the MCST and the Cultural Heritage Administration that in June, the MCST received a proposal 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.

The reception for the event was not held at the Blue House. However, Rep. Jeon raised questions about the background of the “directive-style proposal.” He said, “There must have been influence from Kim Geon-hee’s side,” adding, “The sponsor of the fashion show event was 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. Mr. D participated as a director.

Rep. 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 MCST. He emphasized, “Evidence of inappropriate involvement by the Presidential Office has emerged,” and urged, “The background for considering the fashion show event must be clearly revealed.”

However, the MCST responded on the same day, stating, “We have never received a proposal from the Presidential Office to hold the Seoul Fashion Week event.” They explained, “Originally, the Seoul Metropolitan Government proposed to the Cultural Heritage Administration to hold the event within the Blue House grounds,” and “The MCST only discussed with the Presidential Office the use of the Blue House, including the event.”