[Summary] In Response to Yoo Si-min's Apology... 'Jokukheukseo' Contributor Quoting Cho Kuk's Post Says "Dogs That Bite People Should Be Beaten"

Accountant Kim Kyung-yul Criticizes Former Minister Cho Kuk's Post
"Many Have Suffered... Cannot Accept This Apology"

On September 25 last year, at the press conference for "The Black Book of Cho Kuk" (A Country Never Experienced Before), co-authors former Dongyang University professor Jin Jung-kwon (from the left), lawyer Kwon Kyung-ae, Dankook University professor Seo Min, and Kim Kyung-yul, head of Economic Democracy 21, answered questions from the press. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Yoo Si-min, chairman of the People’s Life Foundation and the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, apologized by stating that the allegations he previously raised about the prosecution’s surveillance of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s bank accounts were "judged to be untrue." In response, the authors of the 'Cho Kuk Black Book' (A Country Never Experienced Before), who had earlier criticized him, have pushed back.

Previously, in December last year, Kim Kyung-yul, an accountant and contributor to the Cho Kuk Black Book, who had criticized Yoo by saying, "If the prosecution did not view the accounts, Yoo Si-min should disappear from the public space," shared on his Twitter on the 22nd, "I will substitute my position with a tweet from a professor I usually respect," and shared a post by former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk.

The post shared by accountant Kim was written by former Minister Cho on December 1, 2016, quoting Lu Xun, the author of the Chinese novel 'The True Story of Ah Q.' In this post, Cho said, "When a dog that bites people falls into the water, you should not save that dog. Rather, you should beat it even more," adding, "Otherwise, the dog will come ashore and bite people again."

Accountant Kim also stated, "I have seen many people suffer because of Yoo Si-min chairman’s remarks," and "I cannot accept this apology." This is interpreted as a statement indicating that criticism of Yoo will continue regardless of whether the apology is accepted.

Accountant Kim Kyung-yul posted a critical message about Yoo Si-min, chairman of the People’s Life Human Rights Foundation, on his social networking service (SNS) on the 22nd. / Photo by Internet homepage capture

Attorney Kwon Kyung-ae, who co-authored the Cho Kuk Black Book with accountant Kim, also pointed out in a post on her Facebook on the same day, "Yoo Si-min’s apology only specifically addresses the allegation of illegal inquiry into the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s financial transactions, which is a clear falsehood among the witness intimidation, dissemination of false information, and conspiracy theories he spread after the Cho Kuk incident, and which carries a high risk of criminal punishment."

She added, "This apology would not have come out without accountant Kim Kyung-yul’s persistent questioning," emphasizing, "For the apology to be sincere, (Yoo Si-min) should take responsibility by stepping down from his position as chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation for disgracing Roh Moo-hyun."

Meanwhile, Professor Seo Min of Dankook University wrote on Facebook the same day, "I appreciate Yoo Si-min’s apology," but sarcastically criticized, "As far as I remember, it is almost the first of the Moon administration’s era."

However, he added, "That apology somewhat eases the resentment that had built up," and "I want to simply evaluate Yoo Si-min’s apology as it is."

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the People Living Together Foundation of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation / Photo by YouTube Capture

On the other hand, Yoo Si-min released a statement on the official website of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation on the same day, stating that the allegations he raised about the prosecution’s surveillance of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s accounts were "judged to be untrue," and "I sincerely apologize to all those involved in the prosecution for causing suspicion."

He continued, "I do not think that just apologizing is enough, and I will humbly accept any form of responsibility or questioning in the future."

He also emphasized, "We all must form opinions based on facts under any circumstances," and "Raising suspicions without clear factual support distorts the process of public opinion formation. Regarding this issue, I will reflect on all my words and actions."

Previously, on December 24, 2019, Yoo had claimed on the YouTube broadcast 'Alileo' that "I confirmed that the prosecution looked into the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s bank accounts (from November to December)," and "I think there is a strong possibility that they also looked into my personal account and my wife’s account," suggesting that he was being investigated.

Subsequently, on June 23 last year, the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation filed a complaint with the prosecution requesting re-confirmation of whether financial transaction information was provided and whether notification was deferred, demanding verification of whether the prosecution had viewed the foundation’s accounts.

However, on July 6 of the same year, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office responded that "No inquiry into the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s accounts was confirmed at any prosecution office nationwide."