The cost of first lady Kim Jung-clothing, sook's shoes, jewelry, and accessories over the previous five years has sparked debate, notably about the cost of her jewels and accessories.

President Moon Jae-administration in's has been accused of abusing its power by spending billions on rare and fashionable items for Kim during his five-year term. Some have called on Cheong Wa Dae to release information on its off-the-record expenses, while others have called on the administration to release information on its on-the-record expenses.

The Korea Taxpayers' Association, a local civic organization, submitted a request with Cheong Wa Dae in 2018 to provide details on the Moon administration's off-the-record expenses, including how much it spent on clandestine activities and the spending methodology for Kim's special activity expenses.

Particularly important for the National Intelligence Service, the prosecution, and other major government agencies in the course of carrying out intelligence operations are special activity expenses, which are budgetary expenditures that can be justified.

Special activity expenses for intelligence operations may also be incurred by the presidential office, according to the law. As a result of the fact that the details of special activity expenses are not made public after they have been used, a civic organization suspected the Moon administration of misusing its spending authority. They claim that Kim purchased expensive clothes and accessories as a result of her husband's presidential authority in the United States.

The presidential office denied the civic group's request for disclosure shortly after it was submitted, claiming that it would jeopardize the public's interest if it were made public. After the decision was made, the Korea Taxpayers' Association replied by filing a case with the Seoul Administrative Court the next year, seeking to have it overturned.

The court ruled in favor of the civic group earlier this month, but the presidential office appealed, stating that the revelation could jeopardize the public's interest, as it had previously stated.

In response to the presidential office's decision to appeal the court ruling, the Korea Taxpayers' Association issued a statement on March 2 in which it stated that "the people are interested in how much of the national budget was used to prepare clothes for the president and the first lady, and how much was the price of each lunchbox provided at Cabinet meetings."

"We do not live in a time when being curious about this information and asking for it will cause the divine almighty to become enraged," the organization asserted.

Kim has been photographed wearing a wide variety of apparel, jewelry, and accessories over the period of five years, many of which are believed to be rare and custom-made by well-known fashion designers. Supporters of Moon and Kim have disputed the assertion, claiming that many of the items appear to be knockoffs.

The Moon government has received particularly harsh criticism, owing to the fact that his party was among the first to criticize impeached President Park Geun-hye for purchasing expensive garments during her presidential term.

When Park was president, the Democratic Party of Korea claimed she spent 740 million won ($603,700) on clothing during her four-year tenure. The party said Park needed to be more attentive to "the common people who contemplate even when spending just 10,000 won," and that she should be more attentive to "the common people who contemplate even when spending just 10,000 won."

The Moon government ascended to power following Park's impeachment, promising at the time to promote transparency in an effort to combat corruption and incompetence, both of which were certainly evident in the previous administration.

While the amount of money spent on special activities expenses by the government has been reduced from 800 billion won per year during the Park administration to 300 billion won per year during the incumbent administration, the details of how the money was spent and on what activities have remained a mystery to the general public.

Even if the remaining court proceedings go in the favor of the civic group and appeals for the presidential office to provide information on Kim's special activities expenses grow in number, the record is projected to remain hidden for the next 30 years.

Presidency-related records that are subject to nondisclosure can be disclosed "when 30 years have elapsed after the end of the year in which they were created," a period that can be extended in certain circumstances, including when the records are considered likely to "materially impede national security."

It is within the presidential office's rights to classify the relevant documents as presidential records that are not subject to disclosure because the office has claimed on numerous occasions that their revelation would be detrimental to the public interest. When Moon's time as president officially expires on May 9, it is expected that the records on special activities expenses would be labeled as presidential records.

Moreover, if the information is later classified as presidential records, courts will have no choice but to dismiss the civic group's appeal without further consideration because the presidential office will no longer be able to provide the information, and the lawsuit will therefore be unable to proceed as originally planned.

In the event that the president's office is closed, presidential records are transferred to the Presidential Archives, which is located in Sejong and which "manages presidential records permanently, equipped with facilities and equipment necessary for the permanent preservation of presidential records."