The inner thoughts expressed at the book fair… "I want to scream."
Former President Moon Jae-in and his wife, Kim Jung-sook, made an appearance at the Seoul International Book Fair, sharing their feelings regarding the ongoing noise issues caused by repeated protests occurring near their residence in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do.
On the opening day of the fair, June 18, the former president and first lady welcomed visitors at the Pyeongsan Bookstore booth.
Pyeongsan Bookstore, located near their residence in Yangsan, participated in the book fair, which facilitated the couple’s appearance. When a visitor to the booth mentioned, "It was so noisy when I went to Pyeongsan," Kim responded briefly but meaningfully, "It's still like that."
When asked, "It was the same last year. Why is this happening?" Kim, with a sigh, replied, "I don’t know. I want to scream," revealing her discomfort.
Harassment and violence surrounding the residence… recurring incidents
Various physical clashes and legal issues have arisen around the former president's residence in Yangsan. In May 2022, a YouTuber in his 50s was fined 4 million won and sentenced to two years of probation for harassing the former president and his wife with insults on a road near their residence.
This YouTuber used a megaphone to make defamatory remarks even in the presence of local residents and tourists.
The court acknowledged at the time that "freedom of expression is an important constitutional right," but also recognized that "the act exceeded the level of expressing an opinion and was a humiliating and contemptuous expression."
Moreover, in September of last year, a man in his 20s was arrested for indiscriminately assaulting a Pyeongsan Bookstore employee. Following these incidents, the Presidential Security Service expanded the security perimeter around the residence from the existing fence to a 300-meter radius. In reality, dangerous items such as toy guns and utility knives have been found at protest sites, leading to the view that security enhancements were inevitable.
“Anyone can come and go at the bookstore… but safety concerns remain.”
While Pyeongsan Bookstore is located within the expanded security perimeter, access for the general public is still freely permitted. Given that it is a space where the daily operation of the bookstore intersects with the security of a former president, there remains a constant sense of tension regarding safety.
Meanwhile, on the first day of the book fair, former President Moon served as an award presenter for "The Best Book in Korea," and the next day he attended a poetry reading event hosted by Pyeongsan Bookstore alongside Kim, engaging with the audience.
Pyeongsan Bookstore announced that all profits generated from their booth at this book fair will be donated to public interest projects.
Image Sources: Former President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook attend the award ceremony for "The Best Book in Korea" at the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on June 18. / News1, megaphone protest in front of former President Moon Jae-in's residence / News1, Former President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jung-sook visit the Pyeongsan Bookstore booth at the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair held in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on June 18, smiling brightly. / News1
