Mrs. Kim's Aunt Responds to the Controversy Over the Post 'The Lightning-Struck Handonghun Family' Saying "Freedom of Expression"

Mrs. Kim's Aunt Targets President Shin Ji-ho
"What's Wrong with Exercising Freedom of Expression?"
"Don't Obscure the Essence," Fierce Criticism

Handonghun, Leader of the People Power Party (left), Kim Gunhee (right). Photo by Kim Hyunmin, Kim Gunhee's Instagram

Pastor Kim Hye-seop, known as the aunt of First Lady Kim Geon-hee, mentioned the controversy on the People Power Party members' bulletin board and engaged in a dispute with pro-Han faction members.

On the 28th, Kim opened her remarks on her social media account, saying, "For some reason, Han Dong-hoon's family wrote on the People Power Party homepage, 'Put a dog leash around their neck and lock them inside the house.'" She added, "Shin Ji-ho described that Han Dong-hoon's family endured being told by (the First Lady's) aunt that their family was 'a family that would be struck by lightning.'" She questioned, "Han Dong-hoon's family first said something they shouldn't have to the First Lady, but Han Dong-hoon said it was freedom of expression. Then the aunt also enjoyed freedom of expression, so what's the problem?"

She continued, "They freely poured insults and curses on others, yet they think it’s harsh that the aunt described Han Dong-hoon's family as a family that would be struck by lightning?" She fiercely criticized, "Mr. Shin Ji-ho, try putting a dog leash and a chain on your wife and locking her inside the house. Don’t have a seizure, don’t endure it, and don’t distort the essence."

Earlier, Shin Ji-ho, the Vice President of Strategic Planning, appeared on Channel A's YouTube broadcast 'Political Signal' the day before and said, "The person known as the First Lady's aunt concluded as fact that Representative Han and his family conspired," adding, "I saw the expression 'a family that would be struck by lightning and die' used about Representative Han's family. Everyone knows it, but I don’t consider it a problem." Kim is interpreted to have rebutted this using the phrase 'freedom of expression.'

Meanwhile, the controversy over defamatory posts against President Yoon and his wife, posted under Representative Han and his family's names on the People Power Party members' bulletin board, has continued for three weeks. Currently, Representative Han's side has not clearly stated their position on the posts, and pro-Han faction lawmakers are voicing opinions at the forefront, saying "there is no legal issue" and "the number of posts is not large." On the other hand, the pro-Yoon faction is demanding "Han clarify whether his family was involved." Lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong also remarked, "If the party leadership identifies who did it, it will be resolved cleanly," adding, "If there is a mistake, apologize; if you feel wronged, take legal action."