hankyoreh

President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, stand for the national anthem at Yoon’s inauguration ceremony on May 10, 2022. (presidential office pool photo)

More questionable figures have been confirmed to have been invited to President Yoon Suk-yeol’s inauguration ceremony at the behest of first lady Kim Keon-hee.

It has been confirmed Kim invited the CEO of the company privately contracted to remodel the new official residence of the president to the inauguration ceremony on May 10. It has also been learned that far-right Youtubers including Ahn Jeong-kwon, who organized protests against former President Moon Jae-in in front of his private countryside residence, were also invited to the presidential inauguration ceremony at the first lady’s suggestion.

These are the latest in what appears to be a growing number of inappropriate figures with ties to Kim — such as figures related to Deutsch Motors, a company alleged to have manipulated its stock prices, and the accomplice to Kim’s mother, who has been accused of forging private documents — invited to President Yoon Suk-yeol’s inauguration ceremony.

The invitation list for Yoon’s inauguration ceremony, which the Hankyoreh obtained on Thursday, listed the CEO of “A,” the company in charge of remodeling the official presidential residence, as an invitee suggested by Kim. “A” won a private contract to remodel the official presidential residence in the Hannam neighborhood of Seoul on May 25, around two weeks after the inauguration ceremony. The value of the contract was 1.224 billion won (US$919,000). Because it only took 2 hours and 49 minutes for “A” to make a successful bid for the remodeling contract after it was announced on the Korea ON-Line E-Procurement System’s website for government contracts, allegations of favoritism have recently been raised.

Earlier, in 2016 and 2018, “A” handled the interior construction of exhibits put on by Covana Contents, a company Kim used to operate. “A” was also named as a sponsor for a Le Corbusier exhibit and an Alberto Giacometti exhibit, both of which Kim planned.

“I attended [the presidential inauguration ceremony] just because I was curious. I wasn’t invited,” the company’s CEO said during a phone call with the Hankyoreh. “I just went and came [back] because the line was long.”

When asked if their private connection with the first lady led to their invitation to the presidential inauguration ceremony, which subsequently led to the private contract to remodel the official presidential residence, the CEO answered, “I have no comment.”

The Hankyoreh inquired to the presidential office why the first lady invited the CEO of “A” to the ceremony, but the presidential office did not comment.

Shin Hyun-young, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party, released a commentary following the Hankyoreh’s reportage, stating, “The official presidential residence is not the private possession of the president and the first lady, and taxpayer money spent as construction expenses is not pocket money that can be spent however one pleases.” She added, “The presidential office should provide honest answers to why the CEO of a remodeling company was invited to the presidential inauguration ceremony, and whether Kim interfered in the selection of a contractor to remodel the official presidential residence.

On Wednesday, the Democratic Party submitted a parliamentary inspection request to the National Assembly, asking that the selection process for contractors for the remodeling of the presidential office and the presidential residence, allegations that preferential treatment was given to a company with a private connection with Kim during the construction process, and allegations that the son of Yoon’s personal acquaintance as well as Yoon’s relative were unfairly hired by the presidential office be looked into.

Ahn, who last month was revealed to have attended the presidential inauguration ceremony, was also confirmed to have made the guest list thanks to Kim’s recommendation. Ahn previously organized protests against Moon in front of the former president’s private residence in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and also became the subject of controversy when it was revealed that his sister was working at the presidential office.

By Bae Ji-hyun, staff reporter

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