"Using Disposable Products Like That!" Criticism of Yoon... Moon Also Used a Disposable Cup

Yoon Used Disposable Products at Luncheon Meeting on the 2nd
Former Minister Cho: "Unimaginable in Previous Administration"

Former Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae has sparked controversy by posting a critique of President Yoon Suk-yeol's use of disposable products. Cho was appointed as the Minister of Environment under the Moon Jae-in administration in 2018 and is currently a professor at Dankook University.

Former Minister Cho Criticizing President Yoon's Use of Disposable Products
Photo by Former Minister Cho Myung-rae on Facebook

On the 3rd, former Minister Cho posted on his Facebook, "To put out and use disposable plastic cups and water bottles like that! This was unimaginable under the previous government," along with a photo of President Yoon.

The photo was taken during a luncheon meeting held on the 2nd in the front yard of the Yongsan Presidential Office. Behind President Yoon, who is chatting with reporters, disposable plastic cups and water bottles are placed. This contrasts somewhat with the Ministry of Environment's campaign to reduce the use of disposable products in daily life.

The image of former President Moon taking a walk with his aides while holding a disposable cup in 2017 [Photo by Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, former President Moon Jae-in also faced controversy shortly after his inauguration when a photo was released showing him using disposable cups while walking with his aides in the small park at the Blue House.

As criticism mounted at the time, the Blue House encouraged the use of mugs and tumblers instead of disposable products during various meetings and promoted the use of eco-bags instead of plastic bags to reduce disposable product usage. Additionally, souvenirs given to visitors touring the Blue House were changed from plastic items to eco-friendly mugs.

In a subsequent interview, former President Moon stated regarding environmental protection, "Small actions by individuals are important," and added, "After being criticized for using disposable cups, the Blue House no longer uses disposable cups."