Kim Jin-tae "Why Did Iman-hee Have Park Geun-hye's Watch... A Despicable Political Plot Against the People"

Lee Man-hee, the president of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), is holding a press conference on the COVID-19 situation at the Shincheonji Palace of Peace in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do on the 2nd. The watch on President Lee's wrist, engraved with the name of former President Park Geun-hye, attracts attention. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] On the 2nd, Kim Jin-tae, a member of the Future United Party, raised suspicions regarding the watch worn by Lee Man-hee, the president of Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Shincheonji), during a press conference, saying, "It is suspicious that he wore Park Geun-hye's watch."

On that day, Representative Kim said on his Facebook, "The Park Geun-hye watch worn by Lee Man-hee seems to be fake," adding, "Park Geun-hye's watch is silver-plated, not gold-plated like that. There was no watch with a date display, and I have never seen such a gold-plated watch."

He continued, "Would someone accused of murder by the current administration have a reason to flaunt a friendship with former President Park?" and questioned, "Rather, wasn't it a message saying, 'Look at me well because I am close to Park Geun-hye and colluding with the opposition party'?"

Representative Kim claimed, "Despite being 89 years old and in chilly weather, he wore a short-sleeved shirt and made excessive arm movements as a gesture to draw attention to the watch."

He also emphasized, "Lee Man-hee should clearly reveal from whom he received this watch," and warned, "Otherwise, he must take responsibility for attempting a low-level political manipulation against the entire nation."

Meanwhile, at a press conference held in front of the Shincheonji training center, 'Palace of Peace' in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, President Lee bowed deeply to the press with an apology. During this process, his wrist was exposed, and the commemorative watch of former President Park Geun-hye was captured together.

In response, Lee Geon-yong, a former administrative officer of the Secretariat of former President Park Geun-hye and a member of the Future United Party's organizational team, stated on his Facebook, "At the beginning of President Park's inauguration, there was a report regarding the production of the presidential watch, and it was instructed to produce only one type of 'silver watch,'" adding, "Various souvenirs such as desk clocks and wall clocks were produced later, but a 'gold-plated watch' was never produced," sparking controversy over the authenticity.