'First Lady Kim Jung-sook's Unplanned Solo Trip to India'... Ruling Party Raises Suspicions of Violating National Finance Act

Literary Style Special Committee Claims 'Pre-Expenditure Before Contingency Fund Allocation'
"Cheongwadae Requested Taj Mahal Schedule First"
Gominjeong and Do Jonghwan's False Claims Must Be Revealed

The People Power Party's Special Committee on Culture and Sports criticized First Lady Kim Jung-sook's visit to the Taj Mahal on the 14th, calling it a 'reckless free trip' and claimed that it was not a scheduled itinerary but rather requested by the Blue House.

On the same day, the special committee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and pointed out ▲ violation of the National Finance Act due to advance expenditure of contingency funds ▲ false explanations by Assemblywoman Ko Min-jung and former Minister Do Jong-hwan ▲ that it was Kim Jung-sook’s free trip, not a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism event.

Former President Moon Jae-in (left) and First Lady Kim Jung-sook are applauding after the memorial speech at the 15th anniversary memorial ceremony for former President Roh Moo-hyun held at the Ecological Culture Park in Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam on the 23rd. On the right is former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook. 2024.5.23 [Joint Coverage] [Image Source=Yonhap News]

Prior to the press conference, the committee revealed that after a working meeting, it was confirmed that three members of the Blue House advance inspection team purchased airline tickets before the contingency funds were allocated, which could constitute a violation of the National Finance Act. Additionally, 74 more flights, totaling 77 airline tickets, were booked using the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s contingency funds before the allocation of contingency funds.

The committee pointed out this as a violation of the National Finance Act. Assemblywoman Kim Hee-jung stated, "The fact that the contingency fund budget, which is claimed later, was used for Kim Jung-sook’s free trip reveals a legal violation related to budget execution." Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin added, "We additionally confirmed that the bookings were made using the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s contingency funds before the allocation of contingency funds."

The committee also criticized the Democratic Party’s claims regarding Kim’s Taj Mahal visit as false. They argued that statements by Assemblywoman Ko and former Minister Do, such as 'there was a request from the Indian side' and 'the Taj Mahal was included in the official itinerary from the beginning,' were all untrue. According to the committee, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism responded to the committee on the day by saying, "On the afternoon of November 1, we became aware of the possibility of adding the Taj Mahal schedule from the Blue House Protocol Secretary’s Office, and on the morning of November 2, we verified the facts with the Blue House." Regarding this, Assemblyman Park Jeong-hoon said, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism confirmed that the Taj Mahal schedule was requested by the Blue House."

Although the Democratic Party claims it was a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism event, the committee pointed out that the fact it was actually a 'First Lady’s visit event' is problematic. The Democratic Party defends that it was an event led by former Minister Do as head and funded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s budget, so Kim’s accompaniment is not an issue. However, the committee pointed out that documents prepared by the embassy and cultural center supporting the event at the time explicitly state it was a 'First Lady’s visit event,' effectively making it a Blue House event. Assemblywoman Kim urged, "Despite it being a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism project, even local embassy and cultural center staff were mobilized," and called on former Minister Do Jong-hwan and Assemblywoman Ko Min-jung to clarify their falsehoods."