Baek Hyunjin "Moon, How Does He See the People... Kim Jung-sook's Visit to India as Solo Diplomacy?"

Ongoing Controversy Over Kim Jung-sook's 2018 Visit to India

Former President Moon Jae-in described First Lady Kim Jung-sook's controversial solo visit to India in his memoir as the "First Lady's first solo diplomacy," prompting Baek Hyun-jin, a member of the People Power Party, to fiercely criticize him, saying, "How dare you shamelessly lie to the people?"

Baek Hyun-jin, People Power Party lawmaker [Photo by Transition Committee Photographers]

On the 18th, Rep. Baek pointed out on social media that in Moon Jae-in's published memoir on diplomacy and security policy, "From the Margins to the Center," the part where Kim visited India in November 2018 on the presidential plane was described as "First Lady's solo diplomacy." Reflecting on the time, former President Moon said, "Indian Prime Minister Modi invited me to come again for the opening of the Heo Hwang-woo Memorial Park, but I declined as it was difficult for me to visit India again. Instead, he invited my wife to attend on my behalf," and described it as "the First Lady's first solo diplomacy attending the opening ceremony in my place."

Rep. Baek said, "Former President Moon is quite amusing," and then pointed out, "Through the National Assembly audit, I confirmed the 'self-invitation' fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs first inquired with the Indian side to invite Kim Jung-sook." She also criticized, "The government hastily allocated contingency funds, and the presidential emblem, which can only be displayed if the president is on board, was proudly hung on the presidential aircraft No. 1, making it appear as if the president himself visited India. This has all been revealed," adding, "Moreover, she even visited the Taj Mahal, which was not on the itinerary."

The cover of former President Moon Jae-in's memoir "From the Margins to the Center," published on the 17th.
[Photo by Gimm-Young Publishers]

Rep. Baek shot back, "If former President Moon's words are true and she conducted 'solo diplomacy' by visiting the Taj Mahal, why is there no record in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs report, and why was the visit log not written?" She added, "How dare you shamelessly lie to the people?"

Earlier, First Lady Kim Jung-sook visited India for a 3-night, 4-day trip in November 2018, visiting world-famous tourist sites such as the Taj Mahal. Former President Moon did not accompany her. The People Power Party called it a "Taj Mahal taxpayer-funded tour" and demanded an investigation, while the Blue House and the Democratic Party of Korea rebutted, saying, "It was an official invitation from the Indian Prime Minister," leading to a public dispute.

The budget related to the India visit at the time was allocated 400 million won, including 250 million won for the Air Force's second aircraft. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requested 400 million won in contingency funds for the delegation's trip from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which was approved at a Cabinet meeting within a day and allocated three days after the request.

In January, People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jong-bae filed a complaint against First Lady Kim Jung-sook for loss of public funds, embezzlement and breach of trust, and abuse of authority. The complaint stated that the government's additional allocation of contingency funds for Kim Jung-sook's visit to India constituted loss of public funds and embezzlement and breach of trust. It also included allegations of abuse of authority, citing suspicions that Kim Jung-sook allowed acquaintances to board the presidential plane with her.