Jin Joong-kwon: "The Only Problematic Part in Kim Gun-hee's Call Is 'Poor Ahn Hee-jung'"

"Words That Should Never Be Said, Even in Private Conversations"

On the afternoon of the 16th, the electronic billboard at the MBC building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, was broadcasting "Straight," which covers the content of the "7-hour phone call" of Kim Geon-hee, spouse of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon pointed out that the only problematic part in the '7-hour phone call transcript' of Kim Gun-hee, spouse of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, was where Kim described former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung as "pitiful."

On the 18th, former professor Jin appeared on CBS Radio's 'One Match' and said, "Among the 7-hour phone call contents, I think this is the only part that could be problematic from a public interest perspective. She said, 'Ahn Hee-jung is pitiful. My husband and I are on Ahn Hee-jung's side.' No matter how private the conversation is, this is something that should not be said in private."

Earlier, in the transcript of a phone call between Kim and a reporter reported by MBC's 'Straight' on the 16th, Kim claimed about the 'Me Too movement' that "Conservatives don't let people work for free or anything like that. That's why Me Too doesn't really break out much," and added, "The reason Me Too breaks out is because people aren't paid."

Jin Joong-kwon, former professor at Dongyang University / Photo by Yonhap News

She also said, "So, the Me Too movement first broke out during the Moon Jae-in administration, and they tried to crack down on it. But why would they try to crack down on it?" and "Honestly, I feel sorry for Ahn Hee-jung. My husband (candidate Yoon) and I are really on Ahn Hee-jung's side." In response, Kim Ji-eun, a sexual violence victim of former Governor Ahn, demanded an official apology from Kim.

When former professor Jin asked Yoon Hee-seok, the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters' standing public relations special advisor, who appeared on the broadcast together, "Does Kim plan to apologize again?" Yoon replied, "She has already apologized. It was also on the broadcast, and we issued a statement."

Kim's side stated in writing to Straight, which reported the phone call transcript, "We sincerely apologize to the public for the inappropriate remarks made during the criticism of some progressive figures involved in sexual exploitation." However, they have not yet issued any special position regarding Kim Ji-eun's demand for an apology.

Regarding the question of whether Yoon's special advisor would be willing to apologize to Kim Ji-eun personally, he answered, "I think we need to wait and see. I'm not the party involved."

Meanwhile, former Governor Ahn was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison in September 2019 for sexual violence charges including sexual harassment using his authority over Kim Ji-eun, and is currently incarcerated.