This article was originally published by the Chosun Ilbo and translated by OKN correspondent.
It was revealed that the number of documents designated as presidential records, which are protected for 30 years from the public, under former president Moon Jae-in has nearly doubled from that of former president Park Geun-hye. The Act on the Management of Presidential Archives states that “in cases of records concerning the privacy of individuals, the protection period may be determined within the extent of 30 years.”
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security said on May 12 that “we received a total of 11.16 million presidential records from 30 institutions that produce presidential records by May 9.” The transferred records are documents produced and received by 27 organizations related to the governance of presidential duties, including the presidential secretariat, the Security Service, and the National Unification Advisory Council. They also include posts on the presidential Blue House’s petition website, other social media platforms such as Twitter, and books, paintings and coins that former President Moon received from leaders of foreign countries. They will be released to the public as early as December this year followed by sorting and registration processes.
What is notable is that 393,000 records out of the total were designated as presidential records, which were produced during the five years of former President Moon’s term. This is the largest number ever. There were 260,000 records designated under Lee Myung-bak, and 340,000 records under Roh Moo-hyun. Former president Park Geun-hye, who served four years and three months, had 204,000 records designated as presidential records.
As the news that the number of presidential records designated under the Moon administration increased significantly broke out, some from the conservative ruling party questioned whether the previous administration designated all politically sensitive issues, such as inter-Korean summits, nuclear phase-out policy, and protocol costs for President Moon and the first lady for both domestic and overseas trips as presidential records.
However, there is a view that the number has increased as the form of content has diversified with the Blue House running a YouTube account and posting 1,500 videos there. In fact, there were 2.07 million audiovisual records, and some argue that they were produced in the first place and that people should have the right to know that even if they are undisclosed.
Designated records can be disclosed if more than two-thirds of the lawmakers in the National Assembly are in favor of it or if the head of the High Court issues a warrant because the judge believes it is important evidence.
