Lee Su-jeong on Jo Dong-yeon and Kim Geon-hee Controversy: "Isn't This a National Mother Election?... It's Regrettable That There Is So Much Interest in Women's Private Lives"

Lee Su-jeong, Kim Geon-hee's Privacy Controversy: "Approaching with Only Suspicions Is Biased"
Criticism of Allegations on Women’s Privacy Including Jo Dong-yeon

Professor Lee Su-jeong, Criminal Psychology, Kyonggi University
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Professor Lee Soo-jung, a criminal psychology professor at Kyonggi University and co-chair of the People Power Party's joint election countermeasures committee, criticized the suspicions related to Kim Geon-hee, wife of presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, "We are not electing a national mother (Gukmo), are we?" She also said, "It is unfortunate that our society is so interested in women's private lives."

Earlier, the YouTube channel 'Open Sympathy TV' released an interview on the 8th with Ahn Hae-wook, former president of the Korea Elementary School Taekwondo Association, claiming that "in May 1997, at the Ramada Renaissance Hotel night, I was entertained in the 6th-floor banquet hall after being invited by Cho Nam-wook, then chairman of Sambu Construction, and met Ms. Kim, who used the stage name 'Julie.'"

In response, Choi Ji-hyun, senior deputy spokesperson for the People Power Party's election committee, issued a statement that day, saying, "In the broadcast, (former president Ahn) was introduced as a 'part-time lecturer at ○○ University,' but in 1997, Ms. Kim was attending the graduate school of education at Sookmyung Women's University. The first time she knew the Ramada Renaissance chairman was much later," adding, "There is one more reason why regime change is necessary. We will strongly respond to such horrific character assassination and dissemination of false information."

Regarding this, Professor Lee appeared on YTN Radio's 'Lee Dong-hyung's News Face-off' that day and was asked, "Former Democratic Party joint co-chair Cho Dong-yeon voluntarily resigned due to private life issues, and now reports about the private life controversy of candidate Yoon's wife, Ms. Kim, have emerged. What is your view on this?"

Professor Lee replied, "From last week, they spent about three days verifying me, then for about four days there was controversy over Professor Cho Dong-yeon's private life, and yesterday and today, the story about Ms. Kim came out," adding, "Isn't this too harsh on women? Why is society so harsh on women? Is everyone really that interested only in our private lives? This is what I find very unfortunate."

She continued, "Who are we electing now? We are electing a president. So I don't quite understand why women are being dragged into this chaos," and said, "If the presidential candidate himself has flaws, that is a big problem, but if not, then it is something to watch for now. The truth will be revealed. Approaching this only with suspicion and prejudice is biased, isn't it? That is also what I think."

She added, "We are not electing a national mother (Gukmo), are we?" and said, "I also find the term 'national mother' somewhat difficult to agree with. What is this, the Joseon Dynasty? Ultimately, we just need to elect a president who works well and upholds the rule of law. I don't understand why there is so much controversy over their spouses."