Kang Yong-seok "Reports Flood In on Jo Dong-yeon's Private Life"... Ruling Party "Will Take Legal Action"

Allegations of Personal Life Rumors Against Yeo's First Recruitment, Cho Dong-yeon
Warning of Legal Action Followed by Threat of Counter-Suit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The conservative-leaning YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute' (Gaseyeon) is deepening controversy by alleging suspicions related to the private life of Cho Dong-yeon, co-chairman of the Democratic Party's joint election countermeasures committee. The Democratic Party has strongly denied these claims, stating they are "completely untrue," and has announced plans for strong legal action.

Kim Jin-wook, spokesperson for the Democratic Party's election committee, warned reporters on the 30th of last month, "We will take strong legal measures against the dissemination of false information."

The controversy arose when Kang Yong-seok, a lawyer affiliated with 'Gaseyeon,' claimed on his Facebook that "tips related to Cho Chairman are pouring in."

Lawyer Kang said he received tips about suspicions concerning Cho's private life, including his divorce, and added, "I cross-checked through several sources among Military Academy alumni, and they all seemed to know similarly." He also posted a screenshot of a post containing allegations about Cho's private life on Facebook.

Kang also warned that if the Democratic Party takes legal action against him, he will file a counter-lawsuit. On the 'Gaseyeon' YouTube broadcast that day, he said, "I have thoroughly and 100% fact-checked everything," and added, "If the Democratic Party files a complaint under the names of Song Young-gil or Lee Jae-myung, I will definitely respond with charges of false accusation and spreading false information."

Conservative-leaning YouTube channel 'Garosero Research Institute' affiliated lawyer Kang Yong-seok / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, held a press conference at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, to announce the appointment of Cho. Cho is the 'first recruit' talent of the Democratic Party's election committee and is expected to lead the committee based on his expertise in security, youth, women, and aviation sectors.

At 39 years old this year, he currently serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Military Studies at Seokyeong University and as the head of the Future Defense Technology Startup Center. Cho is a graduate of the 60th class of the Korea Military Academy and has 17 years of extensive military experience, having served in the Iraq Zaytun Unit and the ROK-US Combined Forces Command.

He later completed a master's degree specializing in aerospace at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in the United States.

At the event, candidate Lee introduced Cho, saying, "He will lead the Democratic Party's election committee toward a young future," and added, "As an expert in the aerospace field, I ask for your special interest."

In a post on his Facebook that day, Lee also wrote, "I read Cho Chairman's self-introduction on his Facebook, and I saw the phrase 'Let's share even a little.' He has not forgotten those who were poor and struggling and continues to practice a life of sharing, which I empathize with. Like Professor Cho pursuing a new space, a new face, I hope he becomes a 'new face' in the Democratic Party's election committee."