"Rudeness, Disrespect" Jo Jung-rae's Apology Demand... Jin Joong-kwon: "Does He Consider Himself Inviolable?"

"Discomfort with Authority Claiming to Be a Senior"
"Appealing to the Law Is a Right and Should Be Respected"

Author Jo Jung-rae / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Author Jo Jung-rae recently demanded an apology from former Dongyang University professor Jin Jung-kwon, who strongly criticized his remarks at the 50th anniversary meeting of his literary debut as "madness" and "far-right," but Jin refused.

On the 15th, Jin wrote on his Facebook, "One thing that is perplexing is that he (author Jo) calls himself a 'senior' and uses his social status to talk about 'rudeness and disrespect,'" adding, "This sense of authority, considering himself an untouchable sacred being, makes me very uncomfortable."

He continued, "Appealing to the law is his right, so I respect that," and added, "I will choose not to get stuck in this mudslinging but to elevate the issue into an academic debate on historical philosophy."

Jin also refuted Jo's earlier explanation that "some media distorted the report, causing controversy" regarding his remarks. He questioned, "Jo Jung-rae claims the subject of the sentence was 'tochakwaegu' (native pro-Japanese traitors), but the media omitted it. Is that really the case?"

He went on, "'Those called tochakwaegu become pro-Japanese traitors as soon as they return from studying in Japan.' Strange, right? This causes a semantic conflict," and pointed out, "They are already tochakwaegu before going to Japan, so how can they become pro-Japanese traitors again after studying there? For this to make sense, pro-Japanese traitors would have to become patriots while going to Japan and then return as pro-Japanese traitors again."

He added, "'Those who went to study in Japan become pro-Japanese traitors called tochakwaegu' (this interpretation) is syntactically and semantically smoother."

Jin Joong-kwon, former professor at Dongyang University / Photo by Yonhap News

He also said, "(Author Jo) explained that 'tochakwaegu' refers to the authors of Anti-Japan Tribalism, but this is also strange," and criticized, "He said there are as many as 1.5 to 1.6 million pro-Japanese traitors to be condemned. What book has 1.5 to 1.6 million co-authors?"

Earlier, on the 14th, Jo appeared on a broadcast and responded to Jin's criticism of his remarks, saying, "This makes no sense," and "Jin Jung-kwon, as a university professor, should have clearly verified the facts. He is being very frivolous, committing rudeness and disrespect without even a single phone call to me."

He continued, "He calls the author 'madness.' I am his senior," and criticized, "Both personally and in terms of social status as an author, this is absolutely unacceptable, and how can he even drag in the president's daughter and behave like this?"

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. / Photo by Yonhap News

On that day, Jo pointed out regarding his 'pro-Japanese traitor' remarks at the meeting, "I clearly set the subject phrase as 'those called tochakwaegu,'" and "By completely removing that subject phrase and only using the latter part, it was distorted as if I said everyone who studied in Japan is a pro-Japanese traitor."

Meanwhile, on the 12th, Jo emphasized the importance of 'clearing out pro-Japanese collaborators' at a meeting held at the Korea Press Center in Sejong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. He said, "The Anti-Communist Special Committee must be revived," and "If we do not punish all pro-Japanese collaborators, this country has no future."

He added, "Those called tochakwaegu, who studied in Japan, automatically become pro-Japanese traitors and national traitors," and "There is a movement to enact laws to punish those who support Japan's crimes and distort history. I will actively participate."

In response, Jin claimed at the time, "At this point, it should be called 'madness.' It is a far-right tendency recklessly manifested within an anachronistic nationalism."

He sarcastically criticized, "I understand President Moon Jae-in's daughter also studied at Japan's Kokushikan University, but soon she will be brought before the Anti-Communist Special Committee that Jo Jung-rae demands and be executed as a national traitor."

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