Park Jinyoung: "I've Never Worked for President Lee or the Democratic Party... A Valuable Opportunity for Our Sons, Daughters and Nieces and Nephews" [2026 National Assembly Audit]

Minister Choi Hwiyeong: "No Government Budget for FANOMENON"

Park Jinyoung, co-chair of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee, delivers a report during a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Yoon Dongju.

Park Jinyoung, co-chair of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee, said, "I have never thought that I was working for President Lee Jae-myung," adding, "I have never done it for the Democratic Party, either."

At a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on October 7, Park was asked whether the Popular Culture Exchange Committee and FANOMENON, a global K-culture event, were being used to promote the administration. He replied, "I have never even thought about when the next general election will be."

"I am doing this only because I think it will help the next generation," he said. "If this succeeds, it will be really good for our country. It is a valuable opportunity that our sons, daughters, and nieces and nephews can benefit from." He added, "I have taken an oath as a witness, so please believe me," and stressed, "I will do such a good job that opposition lawmakers will be able to say next time, 'Park Jinyoung, you kept your promise.'"

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwiyoung guides Park Jinyoung, co-chair of the Popular Culture Exchange Committee, who appeared as a witness at a National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the 7th. Yonhap News Agency

Choi Hwiyeong, minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stressed that no government budget would be directly allocated to the main FANOMENON event. "Not a single penny of government budget is being put into FANOMENON," he said, explaining that the event costs would be covered with private funds. In response to a question about attendance at Popular Culture Exchange Committee meetings, he said he had attended subcommittee meetings 19 times and Park had attended 16 times.

Choi also responded to criticism over Park's overseas travel expenses. "Park's overseas trips were conducted in accordance with the relevant regulations, and his travel expenses were paid in accordance with the rules," he said. Regarding claims that some trips included both committee-related work and schedules related to Park's agency, Choi explained, "The government has never paid any additional amount for accommodation costs exceeding the prescribed limit."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.