Joo Jin-woo: "Me swearing loyalty to Yoon? Clear falsehood... Yong-min, answer the phone"

On the 6th, Joo Jin-woo, former reporter of SisaIN, refuted Kim Yong-jin, chairman of the nonprofit organization Peace Tree, who criticized him as having a 'pro-prosecution' tendency, calling it a "clear falsehood." Photo by Joo Jin-woo, YouTube channel

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Kim Yong-min, chairman of the nonprofit organization Peace Tree and former host of the podcast 'Naneun Ggomsooda (I Am a Trickster),' criticized fellow 'Naneun Ggomsooda' alumnus reporter Joo Jin-woo as having a 'pro-prosecutor (친검, Chin-gum) tendency.' In response, on the 6th, reporter Joo refuted this as a "clear falsehood."

On that day, reporter Joo, on his YouTube channel, denied allegations that he introduced former Democratic Research Institute head Yang Jeong-cheol to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and made Yoon swear an oath of loyalty, stating, "There was no such occasion. I never introduced the two."

He added, "The proposal for a loyalty oath toast is a scene that never existed," and questioned, "If it never happened, who saw it and who heard it?"

Regarding claims that he opposed and confronted Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae over the exercise of investigative authority, he said, "What would I have said to the minister?" and clarified, "I met Minister Choo about six months ago. That was my last meeting with her. It was our final conversation," dismissing related suspicions.

He continued, "In early July, I met with about ten people at a location in Gyeonggi Province to discuss matters unrelated to the minister's duties," and emphasized, "That meeting was definitely before the exercise of investigative authority. There is no reason for such talk to arise. It is a clear falsehood."

Reporter Joo said, "I understand your disappointment. I have many immature and lacking points. I will definitely improve on those," and stressed, "To be clear, I actively support prosecutorial reform."

He stated, "(Prosecutorial reform) is something we must achieve. I have emphasized this dozens, even hundreds of times," and questioned, "The prosecution is undermining the rule of law. Are prosecutors more important than the people?"

Finally, reporter Joo said, "Yong-min, pick up the phone," seemingly trying to clarify the facts to Chairman Kim, who claimed to support Prosecutor General Yoon, but it appears that Kim is avoiding him.

However, later that day, Chairman Kim posted on his Facebook, refuting, "It seems reporter Joo Jin-woo told me to 'pick up the phone,' but since posting the previous public inquiry, there has been no record of such a call."

He added, "Even with this response, I still do not believe he has severed ties with Yoon Seok-youl's group. I look forward to the day when I can once again confirm reporter Joo Jin-woo's sincerity toward the truth."

Earlier, on the 3rd, Chairman Kim said, "I have come to the painful conclusion that it is reasonable to view reporter Joo Jin-woo as part of the 'Yoon Seok-youl family.'"

He criticized, "Having observed reporter Joo Jin-woo's actions and statements from a relatively close position, there were many occasions to question whether he is truly on the same side."