Jin Joong-kwon asks author Jo Jung-rae, "Is President Moon's daughter also a pro-Japanese collaborator?"

Jung-rae Jo "Revive the Anti-Communist Special Committee to Punish 1.5 Million Pro-Japanese Collaborators"
Jung-gwon Jin "At This Level, It's 'Madness'"

Author Jo Jung-rae is speaking at the '50th Anniversary of Literary Debut Press Conference' held on the morning of the 12th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized writer Jo Jung-rae on the 12th, calling his remark that "anyone who studies in Japan is automatically a pro-Japanese collaborator" as "madness."

On that day, Jin posted on his Facebook, saying, "This is an unrestrained manifestation of far-right tendencies latent within an anachronistic nationalism."

Sharing an article related to writer Jo, he sarcastically said, "Is this the level of South Korean writers?" and added, "Just because we use the same calendar doesn't mean we live in the same era." He continued, "It's been almost 70 years since the end of the war, but it seems this person's soul is still wandering somewhere in Jirisan."

Later, Jin posted again on Facebook, stating, "I understand the president's daughter also studied at Kokushikan University in Japan," and sarcastically remarked, "If studying in Japan makes you a pro-Japanese collaborator, then soon writer Jo Jung-rae will be brought before the Anti-People's Committee and executed as a traitor to the nation." The Anti-People's Committee refers to the Special Investigation Committee for Anti-National Activities.

He added, "What kind of delusion is this in the 21st-century digital age?" and criticized, "Well, since these so-called writers are leading the 'defense of the homeland' and are busy organizing signature campaigns for Jeong Gyeong-sim, this can be called a foretold disaster."

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier that day, writer Jo stated at a press conference commemorating his 50th anniversary since debut, held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, "The 'Anti-People's Committee' must be revived to correct distorted history for the sake of national spirit," and insisted, "All pro-Japanese collaborators, numbering about 1.5 million, must be punished. Without this order, there is no future for this country."

He also said, "Anyone who studies in Japan, called a native Japanese collaborator, automatically becomes a pro-Japanese collaborator and a traitor to the nation," and added, "There is a movement to enact laws to punish those who support Japan's crimes and distort history. I will actively participate. Such people must be governed by law."

Regarding Lee Young-hoon, former president of the Economic History Society and director of the Rhee Syngman Academy, who criticized scenes of Korean massacres by Japanese police in his novel as "distortions and fabrications," Jo rebutted, "Everything he says is a lie."

He said, "Lee Young-hoon has insulted me behind my back many times; in short, he is a new type of traitor and a national betrayer," and emphasized, "The historical materials I used are objective. They are clear materials centered on books written by people with diverse perspectives and progressive consciousness from the National Institute of Korean History."

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