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Overseas business trip joined by one’s wife

Posted April. 29, 2016 08:10,   

Updated April. 29, 2016 08:43

한국어

When U.S. President Barack Obama descended on the tarmac from Air Force One with First Lady Michelle Obama for the first visit to Cuba in 88 years as a U.S. president in March this year, he was joined by some unusual people. They were his two daughters, Sasha and Malia, and his mother-in-law Marion Robinson followed them under an umbrella. The scene that the president was joined by his mother-in-law for an overseas business trip was unfamiliar to Koreans. Ms. Robinson was with her son-in-law when he traveled from Cuba to Argentina. This shows the generous side of American culture, which allows people to bring their family to their overseas business trip. While it allows family members to get on Air Force One, they are expected to cover their own expenses.

Chung Hong-won, the first prime minister of the Park Geun-hye administration, stirred controversy during his confirmation hearing for bringing his wife to his business trips to Cancun in Mexico and Machu Picchu in Peru when he was a member of the standing committee of the National Election Commission. He said, “I apologize for bringing my wife who was unrelated to work in my business trips.” In January 2013, Lee Dong-heup, the then candidate for the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, caused controversy in the confirmation hearing for bringing his wife to five out of nine business trips as a justice at the Constitutional Court. Although he explained that his wife served as his secretary, he eventually failed to become the Chief Justice due to other suspicions.

When his business trip to the U.S. with his wife in March last year became controversial, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Jun-pyo said, “Since I started politics, I have always brought my wife to my overseas business trips by spending my personal expenses.” Many elected politicians often think it is mean for them not to bring their wife to overseas business trip because their wife suffered more than them during the election campaign. Samsung Electronics has allowed its employees to bring their family when they go on a business trip since 2014. It was a care for them in balancing work and family. Global companies such as Apple and Microsoft have already such policy in place.

Changwon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo is in the middle of controversy for bringing his wife to his 9-day business trip to Europe and spending 8.5 million won (7,540 US dollars) from the city’s budget. He said he decided to go with his wife for the trip when he discussed his visit with the city of Bilbao in Spain, and was in compliance with his city’s regulation on public officials’ overseas trips. However, he does not seem to understand why the case becomes an issue because his visit to China with his wife in Oct. last year was not controversial. He does not seem to understand why people point a finger at him even though the trip with his wife was arranged at a time when the local economy was in a deep trouble.