Jeon Hyun Hee Shares Conversation from Dinner with Ruling Party Leadership
"Firm Determination Not to Spend the Budget Carelessly"
"Soaring Daily Necessities Prices... Full Mobilization for Price Stabilization"
President Lee Jae Myung is reported to have remarked that the so-called "presidential watch," which has traditionally been produced as a gift for domestic and foreign guests visiting the Presidential Office, is "not necessary." Regarding this, Jeon Hyun Hee, Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, interpreted his comment as "a thorough consciousness about saving public funds."
On June 9, Jeon Hyun Hee appeared on the YouTube channel "Kim Eo Jun's News Factory: Humility Is Difficult" and shared an anecdote about having dinner with President Lee at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on June 7, together with current and former party leadership members.
Jeon explained that after the dinner, as she was leaving the residence, some lawmakers jokingly asked whether there was a "presidential watch." President Lee reportedly responded in a lighthearted manner, "Why would we need something like that?" Jeon interpreted this as a clear demonstration of his determination not to spend the budget carelessly. She added, "He seems to have a very thorough sense of wanting to save public funds."
Traditionally, previous presidents have given gifts to domestic and foreign guests during events hosted by the Presidential Office. In particular, wristwatches engraved with the president's autograph and the phoenix symbolizing the presidency?commonly known as "presidential watches"?have been especially popular.
Former President Yoon Sukyeol produced and unveiled the presidential watch as his first official commemorative item about two weeks after taking office. Former President Moon Jae In also created the "Moon Jae In watch" as a commemorative gift and released it along with a teacup set in the third month of his presidency. The first president in Korea to produce a commemorative watch was former President Park Chung Hee, and since then, it has become customary for successive presidents to create and distribute commemorative watches as gifts. Given President Lee's emphasis on pragmatism, there is speculation that there may not be a "Lee Jae Myung watch."
Throughout his election campaign, President Lee consistently stressed the need to prevent unnecessary waste of taxpayers' money. Even after taking office, he has reportedly paid special attention to avoiding budget waste. His decision to stay at the Hannam-dong residence used by former President Yoon Sukyeol until renovations at the Blue House are completed was also based on the reasoning that using a third location would only waste public funds.
It was reported that during the dinner, there was a discussion emphasizing that "the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration depends on a tangible improvement in the lives of the people." Kim Byung Joo, another Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea who appeared on the broadcast, commented, "It was a message that we should each do our best in our respective positions for the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration," adding, "President Lee also gave such instructions."
Meanwhile, on June 9, President Lee wrote on Facebook, "I take very seriously the reality that the burden on the people has greatly increased due to the recent sharp rise in the prices of daily necessities, such as a single packet of ramen now costing over 2,000 won." He continued, "We will mobilize every possible measure to stabilize prices and restore the economy."
He added, "We plan to closely monitor price trends and prepare to take immediate action if necessary," and said, "Remembering that one hour of a public official's time is worth 52 million hours, I will do my utmost for people's livelihoods and economic recovery."
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