"'Concubine Remarks' Controversy: Jo Su-jin Seizes Reporter’s Phone Saying 'Don’t Film'"

On the morning of the 2nd of last month, Jo Su-jin, a member of the People Power Party who was indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act during the April 15 general election, attended a court hearing at the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Amid controversy over the so-called 'concubine remarks,' People Power Party lawmaker Jo Su-jin forcibly took a reporter's mobile phone who was asking related questions and spoke in a rude manner, creating a tense situation. Jo, who is also a former journalist, apologized, saying, "I committed a serious breach of etiquette."

Jo, who was indicted for underreporting assets during the 21st general election, visited the Seoul Western District Court to attend the first trial sentencing hearing that day.

Jo, accused of violating the Public Official Election Act, was sentenced to a fine of 800,000 won, narrowly maintaining her position as a lawmaker. Civil servants lose their positions if they are sentenced to a fine of 1 million won or more for violating the Public Official Election Act.

After the sentencing, as Jo was leaving the courthouse, she was asked about her remarks likening lawmaker Ko to a 'Joseon Dynasty concubine.' Jo reacted sensitively and even took the mobile phone of a reporter filming the scene, saying, "Are you here to watch? Delete this," and "Don't film, I said don't film."

As the controversy spread, Jo issued a statement apologizing, saying, "As a former journalist, I committed a great offense to the reporters on site. I was deeply shocked by the court's reasoning that I must have known the asset reporting rules because I was a journalist," and "I failed to consider the position of the reporters who are struggling because of me and acted in a way I should not have."

Ko Min-jung, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, Jo criticized lawmaker Ko, who has been sharply targeting former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, saying, "Ko, who the Moon Jae-in administration cherished and loved, mocked former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who competed in the April general election last year, by saying he was 'not chosen by the residents of Gwangjin District, Seoul,' and I reaffirmed the low character of a person named Ko Min-jung."

Jo then likened Ko to a 'concubine,' saying, "(Just before the last general election) the ruling party's floor leader at the time said in Seoul Gwangjin District, 'If Ko Min-jung is elected, 1 million won will be given to every citizen.' This is what is called a 'money power election.' Even a concubine in the Joseon Dynasty who bore a prince would not have received such treatment," she said.

In response, the Democratic Party strongly condemned Jo's remarks. Democratic Party spokesperson Heo Young said in a briefing on the 27th, "Jo compared a fellow female lawmaker to a 'Joseon Dynasty concubine,' making an unprecedented sexually harassing remark. It is an excessive extreme statement and a disgraceful remark that will go down in history."

Spokesperson Heo added, "Beyond a slur, it is a clear sexually harassing remark," and criticized, "It is deeply distressing once again to hear such a humiliating and sexually harassing slur from a fellow woman that insults her dignity."

Lawmaker Ko announced that she filed a criminal complaint against Jo for defamation. On the same day, Ko posted on her Facebook, "At first, I was bewildered, then angry, then sad, and now I feel calm. Jo is a lawmaker of the main opposition party who receives taxpayers' money. Some may say to just endure and let it go, but I do not intend to do so," signaling a strong response.

She continued, "'Being elected riding on the power of the mountain' is a derogatory remark that disregards the judgment of the residents who cast their precious votes," and urged, "Officially apologize to the residents of Gwangjin District."