Jin Joong-kwon: "Yoon Camp Clinging to Moon Jun-yong is Vulgar"... Seo Min: "I Choose to Be Vulgar"

Jin Joong-kwon "Yoon Camp Needs Reorganization... Crude Understanding of Culture and Arts"
Seo Min "Why Do World-Class Artists Sweep Up National Taxes?"

Professor Seomin, Dankook University. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's camp raised allegations of preferential treatment in support funds for Jun-yong, the son of President Moon Jae-in, prompting former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon to criticize it as "vulgar." In response, Professor Seo Min of Dankook University's Department of Parasitology, who co-authored the so-called 'Cho Kuk Black Book (黑書)' with Jin, sarcastically said, "I will just be vulgar."

On the 22nd, Professor Seo posted on his Facebook under the title "I am vulgar," sharing an article by former Professor Jin that implied "the controversy over preferential treatment of support funds for Mr. Moon is vulgar," and said, "If saying this is unfair is vulgar, then I will just be vulgar."

He continued, "The son of the president earned nearly 200 million won over two years but claimed damages because he couldn't hold exhibitions due to COVID-19 and received an additional 14 million won in support funds," adding, "Why does a world-renowned artist sweep up all the national taxes? Why don't world-class parasitologists receive support funds?"

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 21st, Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign deputy spokesperson Kim In-gyu issued a statement pointing out, "The public support funds for Mr. Moon amount to a total of 201.84 million won over the past two and a half years. Why has this been repeatedly given, not just once but multiple times?"

He added, "If Mr. Moon is truly a world-class artist in the media art field, then why does he only receive support funded by taxpayers?" and questioned, "Shouldn't an artist who can exhibit works that attract attention without receiving taxpayer money be considered at least a well-regarded domestic artist, if not world-class?"

Deputy spokesperson Kim also said, "How do artists who have almost no income due to lost exhibition opportunities during COVID-19 feel about this? And what about the feelings of self-employed people and small business owners who receive only a few million won in government support?" He added, "The public will be curious whether the fact that he is the 'president's son' played a role in the support process from local governments and institutions."

In response, former Professor Jin criticized, "Yoon's camp seems bored. They keep clinging to things like this," and said, "Their understanding of culture and arts is shallow and vulgar. The camp needs reorganization."

Meanwhile, it was revealed that last May, Mr. Moon received a total of 70.89 million won from Yanggu County's budget for his work 'Hidden Picture Search,' which was exhibited at the opening of the Park Soo-geun Children's Art Museum in Gangwon Province, sparking controversy.

Mr. Moon rebutted on his Facebook, stating, "The support funds I received refer to the cost the museum paid to purchase my work for exhibition," and added, "It is misleading to suggest that I received COVID-19 livelihood support and is spreading fake news." As the controversy grew, Deputy Spokesperson Kim withdrew his statement within a day.