Yeo: "Kim Geon-hee's 'Andy Warhol Exhibition' Also False Resume"... Opposition: "Master of Absurd Negative Campaigning"

"Cartier and Van Gogh Exhibition Also Fake"

Kim Geon-hee, the representative of Kobana Contents and wife of Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is making a public apology regarding allegations of false credentials on December 26 last year at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The Democratic Party's election campaign committee raised suspicions that the exhibition history of "The Great World of Andy Warhol," organized by Kobana Contents, an exhibition planning company run by Kim Gun-hee, spouse of Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, was falsely written.

The campaign committee's task force for current issues confirmed with the Seoul Museum of Art that Kobana Contents did not host or organize the Andy Warhol exhibition held at the Seoul Museum of Art in 2009.

The task force also claimed that Kobana Contents did not hold exhibitions such as the "Cartier Collection Exhibition" and "The Immortal Painter, Van Gogh in Paris Exhibition."

The Andy Warhol exhibition was one of the major exhibitions mentioned by Yoon Seok-yeol, then a candidate for Prosecutor General, during his confirmation hearing in 2019 as part of Kobana Contents' "major exhibition hosting history."

The task force stated, "The Seoul Museum of Art confirmed that Kobana Contents was not listed as a host, organizer, or sponsor of the Andy Warhol exhibition," and added, "The Seoul Museum of Art responded that there was no contract with 'Kobana Contents.'"

The task force reiterated suspicions related to the "Cartier Collection Exhibition."

Kim Seung-won, head of the task force and a member of the National Assembly, criticized the People Power Party's claim that "Kobana Contents acquired the company that handled the promotion for the Cartier exhibition and also invested in the production of the Van Gogh exhibition," saying, "Before making such unreasonable explanations, it is common sense to look up the meaning of 'hosting' in a Korean dictionary." He added that it is inappropriate to list an exhibition as 'hosted' in a career history just because of investment without directly holding the exhibition.

Written response of Yoon Seok-yeol, then nominee for Prosecutor General, during the 2019 confirmation hearing. / Photo by Democratic Party Election Committee

In response, Choi Ji-hyun, spokesperson for the People Power Party's election headquarters, refuted through a press release, calling it a "blatant lie," and urged, "The Democratic Party's campaign committee should at least conduct basic verification before issuing press releases."

He stated, "Kobana Contents signed a contract with the organizer 'Genie World' and produced and invested in the Andy Warhol exhibition. Even a simple internet search shows posters, pamphlets, and admission tickets listing the organizer Genie World and the production-investor Kobana Contents," and questioned, "Who would put a company name on posters, pamphlets, and admission tickets if they did nothing?"

Spokesperson Choi announced that evidence such as posters and admission tickets showing Kobana Contents' name would be provided.

He criticized, "The Democratic Party asked the Seoul Museum of Art, which is listed as the 'host' through venue rental, and naturally, they have no records. They are grasping at straws. They asked the wrong party and, finding no data, claimed it was a false history," adding, "Isn't this the level of a master of extreme negative campaigning?"