Cho Kuk files criminal complaint for defamation against Gukdae Tteokbokki CEO over false claims
Gukdae Tteokbokki CEO: "Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, and Im Jong-seok are communists"
Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam University and head of the Seoul Songpa-byeong district committee of the United Future Party / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong party committee of the United Future Party, recently criticized former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who announced that he had sued Kim Sang-hyun, CEO of Gukdae Tteokbokki, calling him "jjomseureopda (petty)."
On the 2nd, Professor Kim wrote on his Facebook, "Former Minister Cho himself forgets the criticism and ridicule of the conservative camp during his time in the opposition party, but cannot endure the criticism and ridicule he receives as a public figure and takes legal action. I strongly criticize this 'Cho-ro-nam-bul' (double standards) and 'grudge holding'," he said.
However, regarding CEO Kim's statement calling him a "communist," he also pointed out, "'Communist' remarks are by no means correct."
He said, "If you dislike President Moon Jae-in, former Minister Cho, and Im Jong-seok, the presidential foreign and security advisor, you should persuasively criticize their policies, statements, and positions as wrong," adding, "Simply criticizing them by labeling them as communists is not only wrong but also of no help to the opposition party."
He continued, "The reason why United Future Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook's five-minute speech was moving and resonant was not because of labeling it as an extreme right-wing stance, but because it was a reasonable issue that the public could agree with," and added, "Repeating that former Minister Cho is a communist with absurd, outdated fake news like CEO Kim does is of no help to the opposition party at all."
Finally, he said, "Just as it is wrong for former Minister Cho to take petty legal action against criticism of himself, it is truly wrong for CEO Kim to label him a communist without any basis. Criticizing the Moon administration with fake news and labeling may feel satisfying at first, but the judgment and regime change of the Moon administration that we want will be that much further away," adding, "Regardless of political camps, what is wrong is wrong. Former Minister Cho is petty, but CEO Kim is also overdoing it."
Earlier, former Minister Cho warned that he would take legal action against false reports related to himself and his family.
On the 2nd, former Minister Cho announced on his Facebook that he had filed a criminal complaint against CEO Kim for defamation by false facts and had completed the complainant investigation.
Former Minister Cho said, "On September 24 last year, CEO Kim posted a clear false statement on his Facebook saying, 'Cho Kuk received money and help from the Chinese Communist Party through Co-link.' Moreover, he posted messages such as 'I hope the message that Moon Jae-in is a communist and Co-link belongs to Cho Kuk spreads more,' and 'If this is a problem because it is unverified, please sue me. If I have to go to jail, I will gladly go,' showing that he was aware that his posts were unverified facts and mocked the law. Such irresponsible behavior by the CEO of a famous company must bear legal responsibility."
Meanwhile, CEO Kim, while announcing his lawsuit on the same day, criticized former Minister Cho again.
CEO Kim claimed, "I take this opportunity to inform you once again. Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, and Im Jong-seok are communists." He then posted another message emphasizing, "Cho Kuk is a communist."
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