News that Shin, the spouse of Lee Won-mo, secretary to the president on human resources, accompanied President Yoon Suk-yeol and the first lady to Madrid, Spain for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit has fueled the controversy over unofficial figures surrounding the president.

What’s more, Choi, a distant cousin of the president was hired as a director-level senior administrative official and is currently working in the Office of the Private Secretary to the President. This once again highlighted the problem of unofficial figures and close acquaintances influencing state administration, a problem raised in the early days following the president’s inauguration.

The criticism of Shin accompanying the first couple to Madrid can be divided into two points. First, people claimed that having the wife of the HR secretary, one of President Yoon’s closest aides who oversees personnel affairs in the Office of the President, accompany the president on his overseas trip, board the presidential jet, Code One, and stay in the same hotel as the president is a conflict of interests and is also granting Shin privileges.

Others also criticized that Shin, a civilian, assisted first lady Kim Keon-hee with her schedule and handled the tasks that should have been handled by an employee from the Office of the First Lady. This is in line with the criticism of the first lady when she had an acquaintance accompany her on her trip to Bongha Village.

Early last month, Shin visited Madrid as part of a preparatory team to explore the area prior to the president’s trip for the NATO summit, and on June 22, she left for Spain five days ahead of the first couple.

When she returned on July 1, she boarded the presidential jet along with President Yoon and the first lady, the presidentialstaff, and members of the press. The Office of the President paid for Shin’s flight and accommodations, but claimed there was no risk of privileges or conflict of interests, since she accompanied the president as an “other attendant” following legal procedures and did not receive any compensation for her services.

On July 6, a representative of the presidential office said, “She (Shin) didn’t go because she was the spouse of the HR secretary,” and explained, “She studied abroad for about eleven years and has a rich experience of life overseas. She mostly planned international exchanges when she ran her company.” As for her working without any compensation, the official explained that she first said she wanted to volunteer to avoid any conflict of interests.

■ A distant cousin to the president oversees affairs of first lady Kim Keon-hee, drawing scorn for a “secret” office of the first lady

As for a civilian accompanying the president on his overseas trip, the official said, “When the assistance of a civilian is necessary, we can designate ‘other attendants’ after receiving the approval of the foreign minister.”

Some people compared Shin to another acquaintance who accompanied first lady Kim on her trip to Bongha Village and criticized that a “secret” personal acquaintance was involved in official schedules. The representative of the presidential office responded and said, “She (Shin) did not go to accompany the first lady or because of her schedule.” He said, “She (Shin) is a long acquaintance of the first couple,” and added, “(When preparing for an event) One has to clearly understand the thoughts of the first couple, and in that sense, you can see her as someone capable of understanding their intentions very well and who can reflect them in events.” Shin is the daughter of the chairman of a famous medical foundation based on Korean medicine, who is acquainted with President Yoon. Reportedly, it was President Yoon who introduced Secretary Lee to Shin. Shin and Lee married in 2013.

The first lady is expanding her activities more and more, but there is no Office of the First Lady, which used to oversee affairs supporting the first lady in past governments. As long as the first lady continues to be active without an official office to assist her, this is likely to continue stirring controversy. When asked if the presidential office could consider establishing the Office of the First Lady, the official from the presidential office said, “There is absolutely no such possibility.”

President Yoon’s basic direction in state administration, which seems to be one centered on people from the legal circle and personal acquaintances, contributed to the latest controversy. After the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol government, it has filled major positions in the Office of the President with the president’s close acquaintances from the Prosecution Service, drawing attacks that the president was focusing too much on caring for his fellow prosecutors. Secretary Lee was in charge of responses to negative campaigning in Yoon’s camp during the presidential election.

News concerning the recruitment of more personal acquaintances is fueling the controversy. This day, KBS reported that Choi, President Yoon’s relative on his mother’s side, was working as a senior administrative official--a director-level position--in the Office of the Private Secretary to the President, which accompanies and assists the first couple. Choi is President Yoon’s distant cousin. Reportedly, Choi oversees the affairs of first lady Kim Keon-hee while working as a senior administrative official in the presidential office. Hiring a relative of the president is not illegal, but some point out that it may not be fair.

The Office of the President explained, “We hired him to continue with consistency in affairs because he conducted several tasks since we formed the election campaign for the presidential primary,” and said, “A distant cousin on the mother’s side is not subject to restrictions in recruitment according to the Act on the Prevention of Conflict of Interest Related to Duties of Public Servants.” The office further said, “The accusation that the senior administrative official virtually is the Office of the First Lady is also different from fact,” and explained, “The senior administrative official has worked since the launch of the Office of the President and conducts various tasks.” Choi served as the head of the accounting team in President Yoon’s election campaign and also worked in the presidential transition committee.