Jin Joong-kwon Cancels 'Press Conference' One Minute After Announcement...Mocks 'Serious Decision' and 'Saengtaetang Restaurant'

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon announced on Facebook on the 6th, "I have made a serious decision. I will hold a press conference," but canceled it after one minute. This was a mockery of the Democratic Party's mention of a "serious decision" regarding the 'Naegok-dong land suspicion' involving Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, and the sudden cancellation of a press conference that the son of the Saengtaetang restaurant owner, Mr. A, had announced.

On the same day, after posting "I will hold a press conference," Jin posted another message saying, "The scheduled press conference was canceled due to terror threats from supporters of Park Young-sun (Democratic Party Seoul mayoral candidate). I will request personal protection from the police. This country is one where righteous people are persecuted."

This appears to be a parody of Mr. A, the son of the Saengtaetang restaurant owner who had claimed that candidate Oh attended the land surveying site in Naegok-dong and had announced a press conference in front of Seoul City Hall's main gate on the 5th but suddenly canceled it.

It is reported that Mr. A was reluctant to expose his identity due to the press conference.

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon posted a sarcastic message about the Democratic Party of Korea on his Facebook on the 6th. Photo by former professor Jin Joong-kwon

The term "serious decision" mentioned by former professor Jin is also interpreted as a mockery aimed at the Democratic Party.

The term "serious decision" first appeared when Jin Sung-jun, a Democratic Party lawmaker and head of the strategic planning headquarters of Park's campaign committee, urged Oh to resign on the 2nd regarding the Naegok-dong suspicion, saying, "Depending on the situation, a serious decision cannot be ruled out." This sparked various speculations in the political circle, and multiple interpretations about Park's position emerged.

On the 6th, fellow party member Yoon Gun-young said in a radio interview, "The Park Young-sun campaign is discussing (the serious decision), and an announcement may be made today." However, Park herself showed a lack of coordination internally, saying, "I have not been communicated with about the content of the serious decision."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party demanded the police to "immediately devise thorough security measures to protect the lives and safety of righteous people," claiming that Mr. A, the son of the Saengtaetang restaurant owner, canceled the press conference due to threats from the opposition party.

Former professor Jin sarcastically responded to this, saying, "I thought Park Young-sun was the candidate, but is it the son of the Saengtaetang restaurant who is running? Oh, what a comedy."