Jin Joong-kwon to Kim Dong-a with 'School Violence Allegation': "Bravo, Cool Dong-a"

Drama on School Violence 'The Glory' Dialogue Parody
"I was suspended twice and put on probation once... but my school record is clean"

Professor Jin Joong-kwon, a special professor at Kwangwoon University, recently posted a sarcastic comment mocking Kim Dong-a, a newly elected member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been accused of school violence, saying, "Cool, Dong-a."

On the 3rd, Professor Jin wrote on his Facebook, "Bravo, cool, Dong-a. Clap clap clap." This appears to be a parody of a line from the drama "The Glory," which deals with school violence (hereafter 'school bullying'), where Moon Dong-eun (played by Song Hye-kyo), a victim of school bullying, sarcastically says to the perpetrator Park Yeon-jin (played by Im Ji-yeon), "Cool, Yeon-jin," when they meet as adults. Professor Jin added, "I was suspended twice and put on probation once, but my school record is clean," and said, "Now all sorts of things are coming out."

On the 11th of last month, Kim Dong-a, the elected member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is celebrating as his election victory becomes certain.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 2nd, MBN reported the story of Mr. A, who claimed to have been a victim of school violence by Kim Dong-a. Mr. A alleged that Kim assaulted him over trivial reasons during high school. He told MBN, "I was hit so hard that I couldn't see ahead. He kept punching me," and added, "My friends had to intervene to stop him. After that, I was so scared that I avoided him and lived quietly at school as if I didn't exist." He continued, "Kim bullied many kids. Sometimes he hit them as a joke, and other times he hit them severely," expressing his anger by saying, "When I think about that time, I don't want to go back." Mr. A also stated that he never received any contact or apology from Kim before or after Kim's run for the National Assembly.

MBN also reported testimonies from other classmates. Besides Mr. A, three other classmates said about Kim Dong-a, "I know of two victims. He even extorted cigarette money from friends," "He bullied weaker kids and suddenly yelled at friends over trivial reasons," and "He laughed while stabbing short and weak kids with a fork," among other statements.

In response, Kim Dong-a strongly denied the allegations, saying, "None of that is true," and called it "false." He told MBN, "From my third year of high school, I was rather ostracized because I focused on studying. I heard that friends I used to hang out with started spreading strange rumors," adding, "I think those friends are saying these things out of jealousy and envy."

Kim Dong-a Elected Official's High School Student Record [Image Source: Captured from Kim Dong-a Elected Official's Facebook]

On the 2nd, he also posted a copy of his high school student record on his social media. Kim wrote, "I never bullied anyone or used violence while attending school." The 'Behavioral Characteristics and Comprehensive Opinions' section of the record he posted included comments such as "Actively handles assigned tasks well and has a cheerful personality," "Bright character and polite," and "Strong sense of responsibility and sincerity."

Kim claimed, "I heard that malicious rumors related to me are circulating in my hometown before and after my election," and "I also heard that classmates who are politically opposed to me are the source of these rumors." He further emphasized, "I believe this (school violence) report is a politically motivated smear campaign planned by a certain group," adding, "Although specific circumstances are described, it is a one-sided claim. If false claims continue, I plan to take legal action."

Kim Dong-a, who joined the Democratic Party in 2021, was nominated through a youth audition for the Seoul Seodaemun-gap district in this general election and was elected. A pro-Myung faction member, Kim is a former lawyer who served as the attorney for Jeon Jin-sang, former party representative and chief political coordinator, a close aide to Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader.