"Takhyeonmin Going to Cheong: 'Cho Kuk Is My Friend,' Past Controversies Over Defending Cho Kuk and Misogynistic Remarks"

Tak Hyun-min Appointed as Presidential Protocol Secretary, Advisor for Presidential Event Planning
Planned Presidential Events Including 3.1 Movement Ceremony and 40th Anniversary of 5.18 Democratization Movement
Past Controversies Over Defending Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and Misogynistic Remarks

Tak Hyun-min, Presidential Event Planning Advisory Committee Member
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] As Tak Hyun-min, presidential event planning advisory committee member, returns to the Blue House after 16 months, renewed attention is being drawn to his past remarks where he defended former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk as a 'friend' during the Cho Kuk scandal, as well as his past controversial statements in his book referring to prostitution establishments as beautiful scenery, which sparked accusations of misogyny.

Last November 28, Tak appeared on a broadcast and said regarding the controversy surrounding former Minister Cho, "Cho Kuk is my friend," adding, "Whether he becomes the most condemned figure in South Korea or not, I will be by his side when he is struggling and in pain."

He continued, "Whether (former Minister Cho) violated the law or not should be determined after the trial concludes," and said, "We tend to judge people too quickly and hastily. It feels inhumane."

He added, "I believe that a person's evaluation should be based on their entire life," and "Even if some facts exist, it is very unfair to judge a person solely based on specific facts."

Furthermore, he said, "Only after observing someone with affection over a long period can one evaluate them. However, I think it is better not to make such evaluations at all," and "When looking at the numerous media reports and broadcasts related to former Minister Cho, there are more evaluations of the 'person' rather than their actions or behavior. That shows a lack of basic human affection. That part is painful to me."

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk [Photo by Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Tak was also embroiled in controversy over misogynistic remarks in the past. He mentioned and evaluated specific parts of women's bodies in his book.

The misogyny controversy arose from Tak's 2007 book 'Explanation of a Man's Mind.' In this book, he claimed, "The use of condoms is enough to make one doubt the sincerity of sex," and "For a woman whose back and chest look the same to wear a tank top feels like a terror attack from a man's perspective."

In the interview collection 'The More You Speak, The Freer You Become,' he expressed, "Pregnant teachers were also sexy," "I had my first sexual encounter with a middle school girl in the first year of high school, and I didn't care if it wasn't her face. She was just an object of sex," and "I shared (this middle school girl) with my friends," which drew fierce public criticism.

Additionally, in his 2010 book 'Power to Imagination,' he referred to Seoul's prostitution districts and pseudo-sexual service establishments as "the beautiful scenery of the land of etiquette in the East," sparking controversy over alleged glorification of prostitution.

He stated, "Generally, a series of entertainments for men, from room salons to nightclubs and clubs, ultimately aim for or presuppose sexual relations with women," listing types of prostitution establishments and introducing them as "Seoul's entertainment cultural history."

He continued, "A group of facilities starting from Cheongnyangni 588, including Turkish baths, massage parlors, telephone rooms, and pseudo-sexual service rooms, are more explicitly aimed at sexual gratification than nightclubs," and argued, "Looking at these scenes, one cannot help but think of the beautiful scenery of the land of etiquette in the East," adding, "How can one not praise it as befitting a country of manners and etiquette?"

On July 27, 2017, Kim Soon-rye, then a member of the Liberty Korea Party (now the United Future Party), along with female lawmakers and officials from the Central Women's Committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly's Press Hall urging the resignation of Tak Hyun-min, an administrative officer at the Blue House.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response to these remarks by Tak, the political circles at the time unanimously called for his resignation. Female lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party also expressed that Tak's comments were inappropriate and conveyed the need for action from the Blue House.

At the time, lawmakers from the Liberty Korea Party (now the People Power Party) criticized, "Tak Hyun-min, the administrative officer who openly disparaged women as sexual objects and became the epitome of misogyny, continues to manage major national events despite numerous public criticisms and repeated press conferences by female lawmakers," and pointed out, "The Blue House has consistently remained silent, revealing the current state of gender equality realization under the self-proclaimed feminist president."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.