Moon asks aides not to waste time seeing him off
By Jun Ji-hye
President Moon Jae-in has asked his aides and ministers not to waste time seeing him off at the airport when he leaves for Washington, Wednesday, for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to multiple Cheong Wa Dae officials, Tuesday, Moon asked them not to come to the airport during a meeting with his secretaries the previous day.
Moon also asked the aides not to come to the airport to see him return home.
“Moon ordered the presidential staff and ministers not to follow ritual procedures such as shaking hands with the President in front of the aircraft,” an official said, asking not to be named.
The President said it will be enough if only those who need to make an important report to him come to the airport, the official noted.
“Such a request reflects Moon’s tendency of seeking pragmatic approaches rather than going through all the formalities,” the official said.
Some of the presidential staff voiced the need for the aides and ministers to see the President off at the airport, considering the significance of the first-ever summit between Moon and Trump. But Moon said they do not have to do that, the official added.
In accordance with the order, Cheong Wa Dae will minimize the number of personnel who will see Moon off at the airport.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae and floor leader Rep. Woo Won-shik as well as presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok are expected to see Moon off, according to political observers.
When former President Park Geun-hye went on her first trip to the United States as head of state in 2013, no special event took place, either.
Those who saw her off at the airport included then-ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Hwang Woo-yea, presidential chief of staff Huh Tae-yeol and senior presidential secretary for political affairs Lee Jung-hyun.