Lavish Spending or Necessary Diplomacy? U.S. Trip Raises Eyebrows

Ryu Hee Lim, the chairman of the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), is planning a trip to the U.S. with only two months left in her term, sparking criticism for the seemingly unnecessary nature of it. According to internal documents titled “May 2024 U.S. Trip Plan,” Chairman Ryu and four staff members are slated to travel to Washington D.C. for three nights and four days starting May 14. The stated purpose of the trip is to visit Google and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for business discussions. However, only two places are listed as visit sites, and the trip will cost a whopping $23,400.

In response to the ongoing criticism, the KCSC released a statement. The statement suddenly added a visit to the Korean Embassy in the U.S. to the existing itinerary. “While other chiefs typically have discussions for about 30 minutes to an hour, Chairman Ryu averages an hour and a half,” the statement read, emphasizing the “intense and in-depth discussions.” The purpose of the trip was stated as strengthening cooperation for joint responses to illegal overseas information and digital sex crimes.

Particular suspicion arose as to why they would meet with the Vice President of Government and Public Policy in Washington when Google’s headquarters is in California. In response, they explained, “We will discuss Google’s content censorship policy and also convey the regulatory situation concerning illegal and harmful information online in South Korea.”

In response to the visit to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which is already under subsequent measures following a 2021 business agreement, they said, “We will discuss the current situation and directions for improvement.” As for the visit to the Korean Embassy in the U.S., which no previous KCSC Chairman has ever visited, they explained, “We will discuss cooperation to raise understanding of the KCSC’s work in the U.S.”

According to the KCSC’s union, since 2012, only one of the nine overseas trips made by the previous KCSC Chairmen occurred within six months of the end of their term. The use of business class by high-ranking officials is following the Public Official Travel Expense Regulations. However, considering that only Deputy Minister-level and above can use business class in public corporations and quasi-government agencies, many point out that it is an excessive privilege.

According to the regulations, Minister-level and above can use first class when flying. However, those below the level of a manager can only use economy class. Exceptionally, pregnant public officials of grade 4 or below can use business class if necessary. The travel expense regulations also set limits on meal and accommodation expenses incurred during the trip, depending on the rank of the public official.

Until 2018, public officials could only board national airlines such as Korean Air and Asiana Airlines due to the Government Transportation Request (GTR) system. This was an established system according to an agreement signed by the government with the two airlines in 1990. However, the GTR was abolished in 2018, considering changes in the overseas business trip environment such as the diversification of the airline market. The fact that national airlines are more expensive than foreign airlines was also a reason.

Since the abolition of the GTR system, travel agencies contracted by each department have been securing airplane tickets needed for official business trips. However, the practice of using national airlines is still overwhelmingly prevalent in public service. Even now, the airfare of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines is more expensive than other foreign airlines.

Most overseas business trips by members of the National Assembly also involve business class or first-class flights, and accommodation is typically in top-tier hotels. This is because members of the National Assembly also follow the Public Official Travel Expense Regulations. In addition, airfare and accommodation expenses based on business class are also provided for specific diplomatic issues. Typically, about $16,700 is spent when a single member of the National Assembly goes on a business trip.

A budget of $169 million has been allocated for overseas business trips by members of the National Assembly this year. This is twice the amount of the previous 19th and 20th National Assemblies, which were around $7.4 million each, even considering inflation. However, there are no clear and specific standards for reviewing the overseas business trip plans and expenses of the National Assembly members. The trip expenses supported by recipient agencies are not even disclosed. The number of cases where members of the National Assembly are absent from plenary sessions or standing committees due to business trips is close to 70% of all business trip participants.