Report on 'Shaman' Influencer in Yoon Seok-yeol's Campaign Headquarters
People Power Party: "Visited a Few Times but No Involvement in Campaign Headquarters"
Hong Joon-pyo Expresses Concern Over 'Yoon Seok-yeol's Shaman' Report: "Worried It Might Turn Out Like Choi Soon-sil"
On October 4th last year, during a TV debate among the People Power Party's presidential primary candidates, a scene was captured on camera showing the character "왕 (王)" drawn in the center of candidate Yoon's palm. This led to political criticism accusing him of relying on shamans for his politics. Photo by MBN YouTube capture. Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 17th, Segye Ilbo reported that the shaman 'Geonjin Beopsa' Jeon Mo (61) was active as an advisor in the campaign headquarters of Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party. The People Power Party denied the claim, calling it groundless.
According to the report, shaman Jeon was involved in talent recruitment as an advisor in the 'Network Headquarters,' a subordinate organization of Yoon's campaign headquarters. It was also reported that within the campaign headquarters, Jeon exerted influence over Yoon's messages, schedule, and personnel matters, causing some dissatisfaction.
The Network Headquarters is known to be an organization under the 'Organization Headquarters' (headed by Park Seong-min), which is directly under Kwon Young-se, the head of the campaign headquarters and secretary-general of the People Power Party. Before Yoon dissolved the campaign committee on the 5th, this headquarters was reportedly under the 'Comprehensive Support Headquarters.'
The media also reported that this organization was led by Kwon Seong-dong, a close aide of Yoon and former secretary-general. The headquarters reportedly moved into the Daehwa Building in Yeouido, Seoul, where the campaign headquarters was established, at the end of last month.
Before joining the campaign headquarters, Jeon was understood to have set up a Buddhist altar on the second floor of a detached house near Eonju Station on Subway Line 9 in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, where he conducted shamanistic activities such as fortune-telling and Nureumgut (a ritual to prevent spiritual possession). Jeon was also known to have engaged in external activities under titles such as General Secretary of the Ilgwang Jogye Order, which is unrelated to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.
It is reported that Yoon came to know Jeon through his wife, Kim Geon-hee, and a close associate of Jeon testified that after seeing Kim at the altar, Jeon had a conversation with her. After media inquiries began, Jeon reportedly told those around him that he was "going to the mountains to pray" and then disappeared.
Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and his wife Kim Geon-hee, CEO of Kobana Contents, are announcing a statement regarding allegations of her false credentials at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on December 26 last year. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group
In response to reports that a shaman was active as an advisor in the campaign headquarters of the main opposition party, the People Power Party denied the claim on the 17th, saying, "This is not true."
The People Power Party's campaign headquarters public relations team stated in a text message notice that "Jeon Mo, mentioned in the report, was never appointed as an advisor to the National Network Committee of the campaign headquarters. It is also not true that he is a shaman." They added, "He is known to hold the position of Planning Director at the Incorporated Association of the Korean Buddhist Jongjong Council. Although he has visited the National Network Committee a few times, there is absolutely no room for him to intervene in the campaign headquarters' schedule, messages, or personnel matters."
The controversy surrounding shamans and candidate Yoon has been ongoing. Earlier, during the presidential primary, Yoon was also embroiled in a 'shamanism' controversy. On October 1 last year, during the fifth TV debate of the People Power Party's presidential primary, the character '王' (king) appeared on Yoon's palm on screen, leading to political criticism that Yoon was relying on shamans. At that time, Yoon's camp explained that enthusiastic supporters had written it as a form of encouragement.
Kim Gun-hee, wife of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate and CEO of Kobana Contents, is seen boarding a vehicle to leave the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of December 26 last year after delivering a statement regarding allegations of false credentials. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group
Additionally, on the 16th, in an MBC current affairs program 'Straight,' Yoon's spouse Kim, during a phone call with reporter Lee Myung-su of the YouTube channel Seoul's Voice last year, denied the 'Julie' allegations, saying, "I am a very spiritual person, so at that time, I would rather read books and talk with mystics about 'what life is' and such things."
Criticism is also emerging within the party amid the ongoing 'shamanism' controversy. On the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo wrote on his Facebook, "I am worried it might turn out like the Choi Soon-sil scandal. The article stating that the self-proclaimed 'national shaman' Geonjin Daesa is in charge of talent recruitment for the campaign is shocking," adding, "People are saying, 'No matter how important regime change is, this is not acceptable.' It makes my heart heavy."
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