'Lee Jae-myung Watch' is unlikely to be produced… Lee: "What is the need for that?"
President Lee Jae-myung has reportedly made remarks indicating that he will not produce a 'Presidential Watch' at a dinner attended by former and current ruling party leaders.
On the 9th, Jeon Hyun-hee, a senior member of the Democratic Party of Korea, revealed anecdotes from the dinner held on the 7th during a YouTube broadcast of "Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory."
On that day, Jeon stated, "After the dinner, some people asked President Lee Jae-myung, 'Isn't there a gift for us?'" She recounted, “After the dinner ended, some people asked President Lee Jae-myung, 'Isn’t there a gift for us?'"
Former presidents have traditionally given gifts to attendees at such events, and a 'Presidential Watch' had become quite popular right after their election.
Jeon elaborated, "When I asked if there would be a Lee Jae-myung Watch, President Lee replied, 'Oh, what is the need for that?'" She continued, "At that time, participants said, 'You should still at least have a watch,' but President Lee seemed to be determined not to waste the budget. He appeared to be very conscious of saving national funds."
Given that President Lee pledged a 'pragmatic government' during his inauguration, it is expected that the Presidential Watch will not be produced during this administration.
All past presidents have produced a 'Presidential Watch,' but President Lee will not.
Meanwhile, the production of the Presidential Watch formally began during the presidency of Park Chung-hee.
Excluding former President Choi Kyu-hah, who succeeded Park after his death, all presidents after Park Chung-hee (Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, Moon Jae-in, Yoon Suk-yeol) have created watches engraved with their signatures under the phoenix emblem symbolizing the presidency.
Former President Yoon Suk-yeol also presented a Presidential Watch as 'Commendation No. 1' shortly before the 2022 People Power Party training session.
Image source: On the 7th, President Lee Jae-myung is conversing with members of the first and second leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea at the Seoul Hannam-dong official residence during a dinner. / News1, Watches of former presidents from left to right: Park Chung-hee, Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung. Below from left: Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, Moon Jae-in, and Yoon Suk-yeol. / News1, In January, attorney Seok Dong-hyun, a legal advisor to former President Yoon Suk-yeol, briefed the media on an arrest warrant related to the High-ranking Officials Crime Investigation Agency while wearing the 'Yoon Suk-yeol Presidential Watch.' / News1
