Joseong-eun "Maserati, I drive it when I can afford it... Necessary for young women like me to do business"

Cho Seong-eun, who was revealed as the whistleblower in the accusation manipulation suspicion, is the former vice chairman of the election campaign committee of the United Future Party (currently the People Power Party).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Jo Seong-eun, the whistleblower in the so-called 'prosecution accusation scandal' surrounding Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential primary candidate, and former vice chairman of the United Future Party (now People Power Party) election committee, denied allegations that he withheld wages from employees of his company and purchased an expensive imported car, calling them "false information."

Earlier, on the 13th, Park Soo-young, a People Power Party lawmaker, directly criticized Jo on his Facebook, saying, "Jo Seong-eun, what exactly are you? A 33-year-old young man driving an Italian-made handmade Maserati worth over 100 million won, living in a large apartment near Seoul Station, running a company with unpaid national taxes, overdue loans, and employees not receiving their salaries."

Park also criticized, "You accompanied Director Park Ji-won of the National Intelligence Service during his TV appearance even though you were not an aide, stayed together in the waiting room, ate at the expensive Lotte Hotel Japanese restaurant, and came out to stir up the hardworking youth of this land."

On the 15th, Jo Seong-eun, former Vice Chairman of the Future United Party (now the People Power Party) Election Committee, posted on her Facebook to clarify the controversies regarding unpaid wages and expensive imported cars. Photo by Jo's Facebook capture.

In response, Jo denied the various allegations against him. On the 15th, he posted on his Facebook, stating, "To correct the reports that distort the essence, I am organizing the facts."

Regarding the wage arrears controversy, Jo said, "There is a strange wage arrears controversy. This is a report of false information. I hope it will be corrected." He explained, "Currently, there are no employees, and while preparing new projects with executives, such reports were made. All payments, including wages, have been fully made to employees whose employment relationships have already ended."

Regarding the controversy over deleting Telegram chat rooms with People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong, he said, "I have the original digital source of the Telegram conversations and have submitted all of it to the investigative authorities."

Additionally, Jo explained the controversy over purchasing an expensive imported car in a media interview. In an interview with JoongAng Ilbo on the same day, Jo elaborated on the Maserati vehicle, saying, "Isn't it because my financial situation allows it? As a young woman running a business like me, an appropriate appearance is necessary."