Ha Tae-kyung: "Allegations of shamanism are double standards... President Moon gave appointment letters to shamans"

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Ha Tae-kyung, People Power Party member / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Rep. Ha Tae-kyung dismissed allegations that a shaman is deeply involved in the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters (campaign HQ) operations as "Saengtaetang Season 2." He also pointed out that shamans had access to the Democratic Party during the 19th presidential election.

In an interview with BBS's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' on the 18th, when asked by the host about the suspicion that a shaman called Geonjin Beopsa was active in the People Power Party's campaign HQ, Rep. Ha responded, "This is Saengtaetang Season 2. All kinds of people have come and gone in the campaign HQ." He added, "Even President Moon Jae-in handed out business cards to a famous shaman during the 19th presidential election."

Rep. Ha continued this claim in a post on his Facebook page the same day. He explained, "In May 2017, during the 19th presidential election, a shaman revealed an appointment letter claiming to have been appointed as the national shaman committee chairman," and "During the 18th presidential election, Moon Jae-in's citizen campaign even held a ritual for election victory."

An appointment letter awarded in 2017 under the name of Moon Jae-in, then the Democratic Party presidential candidate, disclosed by Representative Ha. / Photo by Ha Tae-kyung Facebook capture

As evidence, Rep. Ha posted a captured photo of the appointment letter. The letter, issued in May 2017 under the name of then Democratic Party presidential candidate Moon Jae-in, states, "This person is hereby appointed as the National Shaman Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party's 19th Presidential Election Central Election Campaign Headquarters' National Community Special Committee."

Rep. Ha also pointed out that the Democratic Party's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's side issued appointment letters to shamans for the religious headquarters on the 4th, adding, "Candidate Lee even boasted on 'Hwang Gyo-ik TV' on July 1 last year, saying, 'If you look at the saju now, it’s really good, the best among the presidential candidates right now.'"

He emphasized, "This is not to criticize them. The Democratic Party should stop its double standards and baseless slanders," and added, "Now is the time to fiercely compete over which policies are better for the people suffering from COVID-19 and polarization, not to engage in double-standard negativity that only fuels public disgust. Such behavior will face the stern judgment of the people."

Meanwhile, the controversy over shaman involvement arose from the '7-hour recording' of Yoon candidate’s spouse Kim Gun-hee, revealed by MBC's investigative program 'Straight' on the 16th.

In explaining the so-called 'Julie allegations,' Kim said, "I am the type who doesn’t even want to go to nightclubs," and added, "I am a very spiritual person, so I like reading books and talking with mystics at that time."

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate's wife, Kim Keon-hee / Photo by Yonhap News

Additionally, on the morning of the 17th, the 'Segye Ilbo' reported that a shaman named Jeon, active as 'Geonjin Beopsa,' served as an adviser in the People Power Party's campaign HQ and was involved in Yoon candidate’s schedule, further fueling the suspicions.

Amid this, Yoon candidate attended the 5th inauguration ceremony of the 'Buddhist Leaders Forum' held at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, and addressed the allegations. Yoon said, "I was introduced to that person (Jeon) by a party official and greeted him, thinking he was a monk," and dismissed the reports saying, "I saw articles claiming he was involved in schedule messages, which is absurd."

The People Power Party's public relations team also clarified in a statement that day, "Jeon was never appointed as an adviser to the campaign HQ's National Network Committee," and "It is not true that he is a shaman; he is known to hold the position of Planning Director at the Korea Buddhist Jogye Order Council. Although he visited the committee a few times, there was absolutely no opportunity for him to intervene in the campaign HQ’s schedule, messages, or personnel matters."