By Kang Seung-woo

Tak Hyun-min, the former protocol secretary ― during the previous Moon Jae-in administration ― and Park Min-shik, the minister of patriots and veterans affairs, engaged in a war of words over a recent fashion magazine shoot at Cheong Wa Dae.

Cheong Wa Dae was the site of the presidential office and residence for over seven decades before President Yoon Suk-yeol decided to relocate his office to Yongsan District in May because it was a "symbol of the imperial presidency" and as a way to get closer to the people, according to him. Since then, Cheong Wa Dae has been open to the public, drawing nearly 1.4 million visitors since the end of July.

Tak Hyun-min, protocol presidential secretary to former President Moon Jae-in / Korea Times file

The Cultural Heritage Administration teamed up with Vogue Korea for its "Visit Korean Heritage" campaign, through which the fashion magazine unveiled a spread comprised of 32 photos on its official website, Monday.

Upon the release of the photo spread, Tak wrote on Facebook, "It is sad how much political authority without any historical awareness or humanistic refinement undermines national dignity and yet we continue to see that happening."

"Just as Japan transformed Changgyeong Palace into Changgyeongwon, a zoo planted with Japanese sakura trees, with cherry blossoms waving at its nighttime opening ceremony, during the colonial occupation of the country, (to provide entertainment for colonial officials and settlers while undermining the authority of the Korean Empire, as well as to curry favor with the Japanese imperial regime,) the Yoon Suk-yeol administration seems like, it will, throughout its entire term, do similarly heavy-handed things," he said.

Park Min-shik, the minister of patriots and veterans affairs / Korea Times file

"What was the actual reason that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration closed Cheong Wa Dae? The closure of Cheong Wa Dae by the Yoon administration was a failed decision in terms of its procedures, processes and expected effects," Tak said.

In response, Minister Park denounced former Secretary Tak's remarks as ignoring the people, Wednesday.

"Any attempts to disparage what people enjoy at Cheong Wa Dae as if it were still the property of only the president will never succeed," he said.

"The history of Cheong Wa Dae ― whether proud or shameful ― will be better preserved and widely remembered as a space for the people," Park said.

Amid the growing controversy over the photo spread, the Cultural Heritage Administration explained that it sought to promote the opening of Cheong Wa Dae as well as "hanbok," traditional Korean attire, through the photo shoot, adding that it will be more cautious about permitting such events at Cheong Wa Dae in the future.

However, Tak once again took issue with the explanation, Wednesday, as the photo spread features several dresses made by avant-garde Japanese designer Ryunosuke Okazaki.

"They keep saying that various problems continue to arise, after making the very odd expression that Cheong Wa Dae, which was already open before, would be returned to the people under the guise of full openness," he said in a radio interview.

"Given that the Cultural Heritage Administration is in charge of Cheong Wa Dae, it requires management equivalent to other cultural assets. When a cultural asset is used as an event venue, the government must have some sort of plan or review it thoroughly, but instead, the administration pushes ahead with unreasonable projects simply to open it up or lure people inside," he said.