[단독]’Kim Geon-hee’s visit’ KTV concert improvised on Sorok Island… Internal disclosure of “Presidential Office instructions”

KTV. Kim Yun-deok, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker’s office”/>

A written explanation for the private contract related to the performance of ‘Healing Sorokdo Small Concert Beyond Discrimination and Prejudice’ hosted by KTV. Kim Yun-deok, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker’s office

An allegation was raised that the President’s Office in Yongsan intervened in a concert hosted by the Korea Broadcasting Corporation (KTV) in Sorok Island, Goheung, Jeollanam-do in June, which sparked the controversy over First Lady Kim Kun-hee‘s ‘viewing the emperor’. For this event, KTV signed two separate contracts worth a total of 75 million won, and it was confirmed that it took only four days from approval of the contract promotion official document to actual contract conclusion.

Looking at the performance promotion and contract materials for the ‘Healing Sorokdo Small Concert Beyond Discrimination and Prejudice’ submitted by KTV on the 15th to Kim Yun-deok, a member of the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, KTV signed a contract for the concert held in Sorokdo on June 20th. Two contracts were signed. These contracts were considered ‘urgent events’ under Article 26 of the Enforcement Decree of the National Contract Act, and the actual expenditure (contract) was made on the 14th of the same month, four days after the contract promotion official document was approved on June 10. The total budget for the performance was 75 million won, but it was also revealed that the contract was split into 20 million won, which is the limit for private contracts, and 55 million won, which is the limit under the Act on Support for Women’s Enterprises.

The actual performance took place six days later, on June 20th. The performance, held at the cultural complex within Sorokdo National Hospital, featured many musicians, including Korean traditional musician Shin Young-hee, who is known to be close to Ms. Kim. It is reported that about 50 Sorok Island residents and medical staff attended the performance. KTV organized a special broadcast of the concert and aired it on the 29th of the same month.

A capture of the performance of ‘Healing Sorokdo Small Concert Beyond Discrimination and Prejudice’ aired by KTV on June 29th. Shin Young-hee, a Korean traditional musician, is performing.

Representative Kim raised the issue that the Sorok Island concert was hastily organized based on KTV’s internal tip, saying there were instructions from the Yongsan Presidential Office. Looking at the information received by the lawmaker’s office on August 13th, the informant said regarding the KTV Sorokdo event, “What the Korean traditional music performance held at the Blue House on October 31, 2023 and the Sorokdo small concert event on June 20, 2024 have in common is that the President’s Office’s He claimed, “This is an event for which KTV spent close to 100 million won in production costs, which is unprecedented in that it was carried out under instructions.”

This informant also said about the Sorokdo performance, “It was an event held under the direction of the President’s Office to revamp the image of Mrs. Kim Kun-hee.” “Ms. Kim Kun-hee was scheduled to visit on this day, but considering the investigation situation and public opinion, including the first lady’s luxury bag, she did not attend, so the main character was killed.” “The concert was held without it,” he said. Regarding the Korean traditional music performance at the Blue House in October of last year, it was claimed that “it was a concert for entertainment at a dinner party with the president and his acquaintances,” but in fact, the suspicion of an “emperor watching” surfaced through media reports earlier this month.

Sorokdo National Hospital is a place that has a connection with First Lady Kim Kun-hee. Mrs. Kim visited Sorokdo National Hospital on November 7 last year to do volunteer work, and suspicions were raised that Choi Jae-hyuk, then KTV Broadcasting Planning Director (currently Public Relations Planning Secretary in the Presidential Office) accompanied her. The Lunar New Year gift packaging delivered by the President’s Office to people from all walks of life in January also contained artwork by patients hospitalized at Sorokdo National Hospital.

Rep. Kim Yoon-deok said, “If the public’s money was spent on private contracts to revamp the image of First Lady Kim Kun-hee, it is a serious problem.” He added, “An audit is needed to determine whether there are any problems with the National Contract Act or whether there was an order from the President’s Office.”