Lee Junseok Criticizes Jo Guk’s ‘Momentary Confusion’ Apology: "Did Serving Time for Lying Reform Him?"

Jo Guk Mentions Lee Junseok While Discussing Unification Church Special Prosecutor
Reform New Party: "Spreading False Information... Apologize"
Jo Guk: "A Momentary Mistake," Lee Junseok: "Do Your Homework"

Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, raised allegations of Unification Church involvement against Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, but soon apologized. In response, Lee criticized Jo by saying, "Perhaps because he has lied so much that he even went to prison, he may have been reformed, but it seems he now feels fear of the law." Lee made this remark during an interview on Channel A's YouTube program 'Political Signal' on the 23rd, when asked by the host whether he intended to accept Jo's apology.

Reform New Party leader Lee Jun-seok appeared as a suspect on the 21st to undergo an investigation regarding allegations of former President Yoon Seok-yeol's interference in candidate selection at the Min Jung-gi Special Prosecutor's Office, set up at the KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee continued, "Yesterday, Jo suddenly expressed a very negative opinion about the special prosecutor led by the Reform New Party during a KBS morning broadcast, and spoke as if I, Lee Junseok, am also under suspicion regarding the Unification Church. Seeing him do this without any evidence made me think, 'Jo really doesn't prepare for his TV appearances. This is disrespectful to both the listeners and the public.'"

He added, "We said we would take every possible measure to correct this. We had not actually planned to go that far, but perhaps Jo hesitated out of concern that he might be sued." When asked again if he would accept Jo's apology, Lee replied, "The form of the apology itself was rather strange. I won't state my position, but perhaps I accepted it so that he would feel a bit more afraid."

Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, raised allegations of Unification Church involvement against Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, but soon apologized. Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, on the 22nd, Jo stated during an interview on KBS Radio's 'Breaking Current Affairs,' "Currently, the (Unification Church) case is being handled by the National Investigation Headquarters of the police. If their investigation is insufficient, it should go to a special prosecutor. It seems that the People Power Party and the Reform New Party are calling for a special prosecutor, but isn't it true that both Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, and Lee Junseok are now being discussed in connection with the Unification Church?"

He added, "Especially in Lee's case, although he is not a suspect, I understand that he is being investigated as either a suspect or a reference witness. I question whether he is qualified to call for a special prosecutor on the Unification Church issue."

On the same day, Lee Kiin, Secretary-General of the Reform New Party, issued a statement saying, "Jo's remarks today on KBS 'Breaking Current Affairs' are clearly false. Lee is neither a suspect nor a reference witness in any matter related to the Unification Church. He has never been investigated by any investigative agency." He continued, "Nevertheless, mentioning him on public broadcasting as if he were under investigation constitutes a serious dissemination of false information, implying criminal involvement by a specific individual." He added, "We respectfully but firmly demand the following: that Jo publicly and clearly acknowledge that his remarks are untrue, and that he officially apologize to Lee and the Reform New Party."

In response, Jo corrected himself via social media, saying, "I mistakenly said that Lee was summoned as a suspect by the special prosecutor for the Unification Church case, confusing it with the candidate selection interference allegations. I apologize to Lee for my mistake."