In South Korea, Lee’s overseas trips fuel familiar battle over presidential perks

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Ruling parties usually defend the activities as necessary for diplomacy while the opposition calls them wasteful or excessive

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President Lee Jae Myung’s overseas trips have again drawn attention to South Korea’s shifting political standards, adding to a familiar cycle of disputes over presidential golf and the presidential plane whenever power passes between conservative and liberal administrations.

The controversies centre on taxpayer money and the public’s attitudes towards presidential privilege, with governing parties defending certain activities as necessary for diplomacy or official duties and the opposition calling them wasteful or excessive – arguments that often switch sides under successive administrations.

In the latest controversy, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac on Friday defended the frequency of Lee’s overseas trips accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea-kyung.

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