President Lee Jae-myung was reported to have said that there is no need to produce the so-called ‘presidential watches’.
On the 9th, Jeon Hyun-hee, a senior member of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on the YouTube channel ‘Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory’ and discussed a past visit where she met with President Lee at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong on the 7th.
Jeon mentioned, “As we were leaving the residence, several people asked the President if there was a ‘Lee Jae-myung watch’,” to which the President replied, “What do we need something like that for?”
Some lawmakers had suggested to the President, “Still, you should have (a commemorative) watch,” Jeon recounted, adding that President Lee seemed determined to save public funds.
Traditionally, during presidential office-hosted events, reciprocation gifts have been given, with the presidential watches featuring the President’s signature and a phoenix emblem being particularly popular.
The practice of producing presidential watches in Korea began with former President Park Chung-hee. Former Presidents Moon Jae-in and Yoon Seok-youl also created commemorative ‘presidential watches’ early in their terms.
Meanwhile, the watch worn by President Lee has attracted attention.
According to the presidential office and the distribution industry on the 9th, the watch that President Lee has frequently been seen wearing during various meetings is the ‘Moonlight Garden Black Leather Watch’ by the E-Land brand OST.
Launched in 2019, its official selling price was in the 50,000 won range, though it was sold for around 40,000 won on online malls.
The watch has recently gained fame as “the President’s watch” and is now sold out.
An E-Land representative stated, “Generally, products are reordered for sale 4-5 years after launch, but this product sold out completely today and is now discontinued.”