Do Jong-hwan: "First Lady Kim Jung-sook's One-Point Tour in India? She Completed All Diplomatic Schedules"

"Prime Minister Modi and Tourism Deputy Minister Invited to Come on Separate Track"

Former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan refuted the 'Taj Mahal controversy' surrounding First Lady Kim Jung-sook, stating that "there is not a single claim based on facts." Do is a figure who served as the head of the delegation during the Moon Jae-in administration's visit to India.

On the 7th, Do explained on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "The very first invitation came in April 2018 to invite the President to the Diwali festival in Uttar Pradesh, India, and the groundbreaking ceremony of the Heo Hwang-ok Memorial Park." He continued, "Then, in July of the same year, during the Korea-India summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally requested President Moon Jae-in to come again in November and to send 'the best delegation,' to which the President responded, 'I understand.'"

He added, "The reason Prime Minister Modi asked to send 'the best delegation' was because the Heo Hwang-ok Memorial Park was a joint proposal initiated during President Park Geun-hye's administration." He elaborated, "From 2016, both countries' budgets were invested together to build the park, but due to floods and other reasons, the location was moved. In 2018, when the groundbreaking ceremony was held again, it was at Modi's request during the summit."

First Lady Kim Jung-sook. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the ruling party's suspicion questioning, "The Indian government invited the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, so why did First Lady Kim go?" Do refuted, saying, "The invitation from the Indian Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister to me and Modi's request, that is, the official invitation from the Indian government, were separate tracks." Do emphasized, "The minister was invited, but they claimed that First Lady Kim self-invited, which is impossible. The official decision is made through discussions between our government and the Indian government, so self-invitation cannot happen in diplomacy."

He also said there were behind-the-scenes discussions before Prime Minister Modi sent the invitation. Do said, "While discussing the composition of the best delegation, the Indian Embassy kept asking who would come almost every other day. They called our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and internally learned that First Lady Kim and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism were being unofficially considered." He added, "When we gave a heads-up to the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they were very grateful, and Modi said, 'Actively respond, this is very welcome, thank you very much.'"

As for the reason First Lady Kim went, he cited the historical background of the Heo Hwang-ok Memorial Park. Do said, "Princess Ayuta from India became the first queen of King Suro of Gaya, becoming the progenitor of the Gimhae Kim and Gimhae Heo clans." He added, "India also knows how many Gimhae Kims there are in Korea, so our government judged that it made sense for First Lady Kim to go in terms of content."

Do stated, "Former U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and others?when foreign heads of state visit, the Indian government always requests a visit to the Taj Mahal." He continued, "There are claims that it was a one-point diplomatic tourism trip, but at that time, all diplomatic schedules were carried out, including meetings with Prime Minister Modi and Foreign Minister Swaraj, signing memorandums of understanding with the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Sports, the Diwali festival, and the groundbreaking ceremony of the Heo Hwang-ok Memorial Park."