President Moon Jae-in presides over his first meeting with senior secretaries on May 25. (Cheong Wa Dae)
By Jeon Han and Sohn JiAe
May 25, 2017 │ Cheong Wa Dae
President Moon Jae-in announced on May 25 that he would use his own salary to pay for any private costs.
“Expenses for managing the presidential buildings, as well as living expenses, are paid with funds set aside for special presidential activities,” said the president as he presided over the first meeting with his senior secretaries at the Yeomingwan office at Cheong Wa Dae. “However, I will use my own salary for family meals and daily necessities,” he announced.
“There are some occasions when it’s not clear whether it’s for public or private purposes when it comes to family meals, but it’s the right thing to do to use my own money for costs related to family meals, and also food for my dog and cat. Shouldn’t I be thankful to not have to pay any housing expense?” said Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Su-hyun in a briefing to the press at Cheong Wa Dae, quoting the president.
Secretary for general affairs Lee Joung-do gives a briefing on the president’s decision to slash funds for special activities, at the Chunchugwan press center at Cheong Wa Dae on May 25. (Jeon Han)
Lee Joung-do, presidential secretary for general affairs, also announced that, “From now on, the presidential office will stop offering any financial support for the president’s family meals and other private items, except for during official presidential events.”
“The president will pay with his own money for private expenses, like family meals, except for meals conducted for official purposes,” the secretary added.
“President Moon directed the presidential secretariat to slash funds for special presidential activities by KRW 5.3 billion. That amounts to about 42 percent of the KRW 12.7 billion that has been set aside for the purposes of job creation for marginalized workers,” the secretary stated.
“The tax-payers’ precious money should be used as sparingly and transparently as possible for the most-needed purposes. The remaining funds should be bankrolled for job creation, especially for youth, and, also for support for the marginalized,” he added.
hanjeon@korea.kr
