Lee Jae-myung Deletes Post Claiming "Historical Truth" About 'Ewha University Student Sexual Bribery' Allegation

Video Claiming 'Edae Student Sexual Bribery' Shared
Deleted Within 1 Hour... "Staff Mistake"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote and then deleted a post that appeared to defend claims that Kim Hwal-ran, the first president of Ewha Womans University, had previously provided 'sexual favors' to U.S. military personnel on behalf of students. This was Lee's first statement following the controversy sparked by Kim Jun-hyeok, a candidate for Suwon City Mayor in Gyeonggi Province, who made remarks about 'Ewha students providing sexual favors.' However, Lee's camp stated that the post was a "staff mistake."

On the afternoon of the 8th, Lee shared a video link on his YouTube community titled "A Major Twist in the Kim Jun-hyeok Controversy! Testimony Emerges That My Aunt Was Offered as a Sacrifice to the U.S. Military by Kim Hwal-ran!" and wrote, "We must not close our eyes to historical truth." However, the post was deleted within an hour.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is campaigning in support of candidate Ryu Sam-young at the entrance of Namseong Sagye Market in Dongjak-gu on the 8th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The video Lee shared was from a press conference held in front of the main gate of Ewha Womans University titled "Facing Kim Hwal-ran's Pro-Japanese and Anti-Women Acts and Hoping for a Proud Ewha in Front of History," where Ko Eun-kwang-soon, director of the Peace Mothers Association, stated, "When I was young, I saw a photo in a family album of my aunt sitting on the lawn with U.S. military personnel," adding, "It looked like female college students were paired with U.S. soldiers in group meetings." She further claimed, "I only recently learned that my aunt was caught by Kim Hwal-ran," and called her "a victim of Kim Hwal-ran." Director Ko is known as a former student activist and has a history of serving as a central committee member of the former Uri Party.

Lee Jae-myung, who had remained silent on the 'Ewha students providing sexual favors' controversy, posting such content led to interpretations that he might be defending candidate Kim Jun-hyeok, who had raised related claims. However, Lee's camp stated that the posting and deletion process was a "staff mistake," implying that Lee did not post it himself.

Lee Jae-myung, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, YouTube Community Screenshot

The People Power Party immediately condemned the post. Han Dong-hoon, emergency committee chairman, called it "a matter that makes one doubt their eyes," and criticized, "The trashy thoughts and words of a person named Kim Jun-hyeok are what the Democratic Party would apply to South Korea if they controlled parliamentary power." Park Jeong-ha, spokesperson for the People Power Party's Central Election Committee, also pointed out in a statement, "While ignoring the voices of Ewha students condemning Kim Jun-hyeok's outrageous remarks, they shared voices defending Kim as 'historical truth.'"

The content of the video itself is also under dispute. Ko Eun claimed, "My aunt was born in 1935, studied Political Science and Diplomacy at Ewha Womans University, and only recently learned that she was caught by President Kim Hwal-ran around 1948 during the Nakrang Club incident." In response, a ruling party official said, "If that claim is true, the aunt born in 1935 would have been a teenager during the Nakrang Club period," adding, "It doesn't add up that a teenager was studying Political Science and Diplomacy at Ewha Womans University and was victimized by Kim Hwal-ran. This requires verification."