'Author of "Yi Sun-sin Also Had Relations with Servants"' Responds to Descendants Who Threatened to Sue: "Lawsuit Welcome"

Photo by Online Community Archive

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Yeonju Kim] A member A of a progressive community who posted a message defending the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon by saying "Even Admiral Yi Sun-sin slept with a gwan-no (government slave)" expressed a stance of "welcoming" the announcement of a lawsuit by descendants of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

According to the online community Clien, on the 21st, member A of the site said, "It's okay. This interpretation itself is also mentioned in academia."

A said, "I think the frame attacking the Democratic Party was anti-communism before and now it is gender," adding, "when you turn it into gender, even here (progressive community) internal strife breaks out and people are busy shooting each other inside."

He also said, "If there is a lawsuit, I welcome it," and "I want to properly tell my story."

Earlier, the Deoksu Yi clan Grand Council and the Chungmugong faction council, descendants of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, held a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day, stating, "It is a mistaken claim that associates the 'Yeojinip, Yeojinsap' part of the Nanjung Ilgi (War Diary) with sleeping together, which repeats the misreading by Japanese people," and demanded an apology from A, saying, "Why bring Chungmugong into the death of the Seoul mayor? As descendants, we are speechless and furious."

Lee Jong-cheon, head of the Deoksu Yi clan Chungmugong faction council, emphasized, "It is impossible that Chungmugong, while in mourning for his mother and on his way to serve in white clothes, would sleep with a woman," and said, "If there is no apology, we will also file a lawsuit."

On the 11th, A commented on a post criticizing Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, who refused to pay respects to Mayor Park, saying, "Because of the phrase in the Nanjung Ilgi that 'he slept several times with a gwan-no,' should Yi Sun-sin not be respected? Are you saying not to hold memorial rites for him?"

After A’s comment spread online, criticism intensified.

As the controversy heated up, A posted a clarification on the 13th, saying, "Many people are sensitive only to the word gwan-no, but it is absolutely not the case that Mayor Park and gwan-no are the same," and "My post means that the most shameful parts should not be used to undermine a person's achievements by today's standards."

However, he also said, "Shall we look at the example of Kim Gu? There is a similar anecdote about Kim Gu. Like this," causing another controversy.

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