Used 199 Times in Three Months... Why Is the Presidential Office's 'Favorite Caf?' Drawing Attention?

Presidential Office Becomes First Administration to Disclose Special Activity Fund Records
Caf? Used Nearly 200 Times in Three Months Draws Attention

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are tasting rice cakes at a store during their visit to Yeonseo Market in Eunpyeong District, Seoul, on August 17. Photo by the Presidential Office

The Lee Jae-myung administration has become the first in South Korean history to fully disclose the spending records of the Presidential Office's special activity funds, specific task expenses, and business promotion expenses. This unprecedented transparency has even drawn public attention to the 'favorite caf?' frequently visited by Presidential Office staff. The caf? in question is the 'I Got Everything Yongsan Branch,' located in the basement of the Yongsan government complex, where coffee and snacks needed for meetings or interviews were mainly purchased.

On the 23rd, the Presidential Office announced, "We have decided to disclose this information out of respect for the public's right to know and in accordance with the court's ruling," and posted the execution details of major government operation expenses on its official website. According to the data, from June to August of this year, a total of 464,226,000 won was spent on special activity funds since the launch of the administration. Business promotion expenses amounted to 978,381,421 won, while specific task expenses totaled 19,141,980 won.

Used 199 Times Over Three Months... Coffee and Snacks Purchased for Meetings and Interviews

I Got Everything Branch 81 Gyeonggi-do Ansan Office of Education Branch. Korea Disabled Development Institute

Among the business promotion and specific task expense records, one establishment name appeared frequently: the 'I Got Everything' caf? located in the basement of the Yongsan Presidential Office. According to the business promotion expense records, the Presidential Office used the I Got Everything Yongsan Branch 199 times over the three months from June to August. The records for specific task expenses also show 11 visits to this location. It appears that coffee and snacks needed for meetings or interviews were mainly purchased from this caf?. The amounts spent ranged from small sums in the 10,000 won range (such as 10,000 won for business coordination related to the president's schedule on July 4) to larger amounts in the 400,000 won range (such as 413,400 won for refreshments for external business contacts on July 3).

The I Got Everything Yongsan Branch is the 88th branch and opened in March 2023, following the relocation of the Presidential Office from the Blue House to Yongsan. This caf? is part of a project by the Korea Disabled Development Institute to provide jobs for people with severe disabilities. After a public bidding process, the Korea Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities was selected to operate the branch, and five employees with disabilities-including three with developmental disabilities and one with a mental disability-work there as baristas and managers. The caf? sells not only coffee but also snacks and daily necessities, serving as an in-house store for the convenience of Presidential Office staff and visitors.

The latest business promotion expense records also revealed various other expenditures, including at chicken restaurants, donut shops, and for movie tickets. Notably, the group ticket expense for the documentary film "Independence Army: The Unfinished War," which President Lee Jae-myung watched with citizens on the 17th of last month (799,000 won), was also recorded as a business promotion expense. The Presidential Office stated, "This disclosure will serve as an important milestone in enhancing transparency in national administration," adding, "We plan to continue regularly releasing related information to further strengthen public trust."