Why did she leave the country?

The daughter of President Moon Jae-in is said to have sold her home in Korea last year and moved to a country in Southeast Asia with her family. Her son is attending an international elementary school there, according to Rep. Kwak Sang-do of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP). He demanded an explanation about the questionable move. The Blue House admitted the president’s daughter and her family were living abroad, but warned against the spread of speculative and slanderous rumors because there was nothing illegal about the move. Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said they had not moved for economic or educational reasons. He criticized the ill-intended disclosure of details about the personal lives of the president’s family members.

But the explanation did not ease questions. It is rare for a family of the sitting president to move abroad. Moreover, the sale of the residence in Guki-dong, Jongno District, also raises suspicions about an irregular transaction to save inheritance tax because the trade was not customary. Moon had sold his home to his son-in-law, who then transferred the ownership to his wife. Three months later, Moon’s daughter sold the house and moved abroad.

Family members or relatives of the president have the right to live overseas. There is no reason why the grandchildren of the president cannot be educated abroad. But if there are procedural questions, they should be answered publicly as their taxes are used for the security of the family members of the president. Living abroad requires extra security staffing and funds. The Blue House has the duty to explain the details and clear any doubts people may have.

There is also speculation the family is leaving the country after Moon’s son-in-law came under allegations of embezzling a government subsidy for the gaming company he worked for. His wife, Moon Da-hye, appeared at the final campaign stop for President Moon on May 8, 2017 and pleaded for votes for her father, saying he would help create a country where housewives and children could live happily. So why did she have to leave the country her father is governing? That’s a question any Korean could ask.

JoongAng Ilbo, Jan. 30, Page 30