Cheong "Absurd Fiction"... Denies Jeonguiyeon Preemptive Blocking Allegation (Summary)

Yoon Dohan, Chief of National Communication, Cautions Against Political Interpretation of Public Relations Secretary's Resignation... "Resigned in April Due to Health Issues"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] The Blue House dismissed political interpretations surrounding the background of Jeong Gu-cheol, Secretary for Public Relations Planning, tendering his resignation. It firmly rejected political interpretations suggesting that the decision was made to preemptively block the fallout from the 'Justice Memory Solidarity' controversy from spreading to the Blue House, rebutting related controversies point by point.

Yoon Do-han, Senior Secretary for Public Communication at the Blue House, stated in a written briefing on the 28th, "The Chosun Ilbo reported today that Jeong Gu-cheol, Secretary for Public Relations Planning at the Blue House, tendered his resignation to prevent the spark of the Justice Memory Solidarity incident from spreading to the Blue House," adding, "This is a typical false report by the Chosun Ilbo. It is not true."

Earlier, the Chosun Ilbo, in its issue on the 28th, reported that the Secretary General of Justice Memory Solidarity is Jeong’s wife, raising questions about the background of Secretary Jeong’s resignation. Senior Secretary Yoon explained the process of Secretary Jeong Gu-cheol’s resignation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Senior Secretary Yoon said, "I recommended Secretary Jeong as Secretary for Public Relations Planning last year and recruited him after persistent efforts. Secretary Jeong repeatedly declined but reluctantly agreed to work with me due to our personal connection, with the condition that he would work only until April this year. He was supposed to resign last month as promised, but since a comprehensive personnel reshuffle was scheduled, I requested him to delay his resignation."

Regarding this, Secretary Jeong stated, "I joined in poor health and experienced discomfort to the extent that it interfered with my duties, so I expressed my intention to resign in April. There were attempts to dissuade me, and the process was delayed due to overlapping personnel matters. That is all. The preemptive blocking theory is an absurd fiction."

Secretary Jeong added, "It is true that the Secretary General of Justice Memory Solidarity is my wife. I have never hidden this fact, nor have I ever promoted it. My wife has been working with Justice Memory Solidarity for nearly two years, and only recently did I realize that, as her husband, I was not a supporting member. I feel sorry about that."

Meanwhile, Senior Secretary Yoon also continued strong criticism regarding the Chosun Ilbo’s past reports. He said, "On the 4th, the Chosun Ilbo published an interview article raising suspicions that the early voting in the April 15 general election was manipulated. It is unbelievable that such content, which might appear in market gossip magazines, is reported in a comprehensive daily newspaper," adding, "The Chosun Ilbo’s false reports are so numerous that it is difficult to count them all."

Secretary Jeong also commented on the suspicious views surrounding his resignation, saying, "It is not even worth being angry about. The futile attempts to drag the Blue House into this are only pitiful and pathetic."