Jeon Yeo-ok Criticizes "63 Million Won In-Flight Meal? Did Kim Jeong-suk Learn Mukbang from Tzuyang?"

"Kim Jung-sook's India Tour, Endless Rumors"
"Lee Won-seok, Prosecutor General, Calls for Search and Seizure"
Also Advocates for Special Investigation on In-flight Meals

Former President Moon Jae-in's wife, Kim Jung-sook, faced fierce criticism from former Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker Jeon Yeo-ok for spending 69.29 million KRW on in-flight meals aboard a presidential aircraft during her solo visit to India in 2018.

On the 1st, former lawmaker Jeon posted a blog titled "63 million KRW in-flight meal scam?" stating, "Kim Jung-sook's 'India tour' is a papagoe (a phrase meaning that the more you dig into something, the more disturbing rumors emerge). It has caused international embarrassment." She added, "An in-flight meal scam under the guise of in-flight meals? At least 50 million KRW must have been pocketed by someone. It is not only irrational but extraordinary. If you dig deeper, shocking facts that will astonish the world will be revealed."

First Lady Kim Jung-sook visiting India in 2018
[Photo by Former Blue House]

She questioned, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism says there are no records? (That's a blatant lie). Korean Air says they cannot disclose it? (What crime have we committed?)" She further asked, "Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, shouldn't you conduct a seizure and search on this? Weren't you once a sharp prosecutor?"

On the 31st of last month, she also posted titled "In-flight meal special investigation, let's go," pointing out, "Including Kim Jung-sook, 36 people spent 63 million KRW on just four meals? That means 400,000 to 500,000 KRW per person per meal." She demanded, "The first-class in-flight meal costs 100,000 KRW, but this is more than four times that amount, 400,000 to 500,000 KRW? We demand the disclosure of ultra-first-class in-flight meals."

She highlighted that a Korean cuisine chef from the Blue House accompanied the trip, saying, "Just like using a water purifier and wearing Chanel with jewelry, they were serious about eating as well." She questioned, "Did Kim Jung-sook film an 'in-flight meal mukbang'? Did she receive personal coaching from Tzuyang (a famous mukbang YouTuber known for eating large quantities)? Or did she make a private contract for in-flight meals and receive incentives?" She repeatedly emphasized, "A special investigation on the in-flight meals must happen. The special prosecutor must uncover the truth."

Former Assemblywoman Jeon Yeo-ok [Photo by Channel A]

Controversy Begins with Moon Jae-in's Memoir

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin revealed that Kim Jung-sook, wife of former President Moon Jae-in, spent over 230 million KRW using the 'presidential aircraft' during her 2018 visit to India.

According to the detailed expenditure breakdown in the private contract signed between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korean Air for the 3-night, 4-day India trip in November 2018, 'fuel costs' accounted for the largest amount at 65.31 million KRW. 'In-flight meal expenses' followed closely at 62.92 million KRW. Local support staff wages amounted to 30.13 million KRW, while travel, airfare, and accommodation expenses for support staff totaled 29.95 million KRW. Ground handling fees, which cover ground support services for aircraft operation, were 23.39 million KRW, and 'preparation headquarters personnel wages' were 12.25 million KRW.

The controversy reignited after former President Moon mentioned in his memoir published on the 19th that Kim Jung-sook's solo visit to India was "(the first solo diplomatic mission by a presidential spouse)." The ruling party has criticized, saying, "Kim Jung-sook's visit to India was not invited by the Indian government but was proposed first by the Moon Jae-in administration, costing taxpayers a total of 400 million KRW for a sightseeing trip." Some within the ruling party have called for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Kim Jung-sook.