Lee Jae-myung Camp's First External Recruit as Co-Head of Joint Election Committee
Resigns Amid 'Illegitimate Child' Allegation Controversy
Exclusive Interview with UK Daily The Guardian
Professor Jo Dong-yeon was recruited last year as the first external recruit of the Democratic Party and appointed as co-chairman of Lee Jae-myung's campaign, but he resigned voluntarily after three days due to allegations raised by the "Garosero Research Institute" and suspicions of an "illegitimate child." Photo by Yonhap News Agency
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] Professor Cho Dong-yeon of the Department of Military Studies at Seokyeong University, who was recruited as co-chairman of the Lee Jae-myung campaign for the last presidential election but resigned due to a personal life controversy, revealed that she had attempted an extreme act.
On the 18th (local time), the British daily The Guardian published an exclusive interview with Professor Cho under the headline "The Horrible Price of South Korea's Political Scandal."
Professor Cho is an assistant professor in the Department of Military Studies at Seokyeong University, holds a master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, and served as a major in the Republic of Korea Army. In November last year, she was recruited as the first external figure by the Democratic Party and appointed as co-chairman of the Lee Jae-myung campaign, but after the YouTube channel "Garo Sero Research Institute" (Gaseyeon) raised allegations of an "illegitimate child," she voluntarily stepped down after three days amid controversy.
Professor Cho has a 14-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. At the time of her resignation, she stated with her children's consent that "the child is not illegitimate but was an unwanted pregnancy resulting from sexual assault."
In the interview, Professor Cho confessed, "I was honored to have the opportunity to help and thought I could assist in Lee's election. I had no idea what kind of repercussions my involvement would cause."
She said, "If I had not resigned, I would have continued to be attacked. My children are still young," adding, "I wanted to tell my son the truth about what his mother went through someday, but I did not want him to learn about it through right-wing YouTubers and media who do not care about my family at all. That makes me sad and angry."
According to Professor Cho, after her resignation, she avoided meeting acquaintances, closed her social media accounts, and had her children take a month off from school to avoid reporters. At that time, she attempted an extreme act and said she had thought about it several times afterward.
Professor Cho said, "Entering politics was my decision, so I was really angry at myself," adding, "My family and children suffered a lot. Children have their own futures, and as a mother, I wanted to protect them." She confessed, "One day, my children told me, 'Whatever you did is okay.' Those words saved my life."
Professor Cho said she decided to use her experience to help other women. She said, "This is not a problem that applies only to me," adding, "Just a few months ago, a female non-commissioned officer committed an extreme act after being sexually harassed. I have witnessed similar incidents almost daily, but all were covered up."
She continued, "In Korea, expectations for public figures, celebrities, and other famous people are very high," and added, "Maybe in 10 or 20 years, people's perspectives will change. I hope what happened to me will help bring about such change."
The Guardian pointed out that she "paid a terrible price" for the political scandal in South Korea. It also analyzed that she became a target because she was a successful woman in the conservative military who joined the progressive camp.
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