Controversy Over the 'Julie Mural'... Jin Joong-kwon "Everyone's Crazy" vs. Building Owner "Freedom of Expression"

Jin Joong-kwon "The underlying misogyny is disgusting"
Choi Jae-hyung "This is low-level slander and political violence, a character assassination disguised as freedom of expression"
Building owner Ms. Yeo "She says she is not Julie, so whose honor is being defamed?"

Photo by Professor Jin Jeon, captured from Facebook

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Amid controversy over a mural defaming Kim Geon-hee, the wife of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, on the outer wall of a bookstore in Jongno-gu, Seoul, former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon strongly criticized it, saying, "Everyone has gone crazy. No matter how obsessed with politics, this is too much."

On the 29th, former professor Jin said on his social media service (SNS), "The political violence ingrained in the character of those who do that and those who cheer for it frightens me."

He added, "That itself is scary and chilling, but above all, the misogyny underlying it is disgusting," and pointed out, "The fanatic behavior of those supporters means that the Democratic Party has already become a historical reactionary force."

Amid controversy over a mural defaming Kim Keon-hee, the wife of presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, painted on the exterior wall of a bookstore in Jongno-gu, Seoul, members of conservative groups and YouTubers are protesting in front of the mural on the morning of the 29th.
Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the side wall of a secondhand bookstore building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a mural appeared defaming Kim with phrases such as "Julie's Men" and "Julie's Dream! The First Lady's Dream!" "Julie" is the name referring to Kim in the so-called "Yoon Seok-yeol X-file."

The first mural labeled "Julie's Men" lists "2000 Dr. A, 2005 Chairman Jo, 2006 Prosecutor P, 2006 Prosecutor Y, 2007 BM CEO, 2008 Announcer Kim, 2009 Prosecutor Yoon."

Regarding this, Choi Jae-hyung, former Auditor General and Yoon's presidential rival, posted on Facebook, "We must not tolerate acts that regress democracy under the name of freedom of expression," adding, "I cannot contain my anger. This is a low-level defamation, political violence, and character assassination under the guise of freedom of expression."

Meanwhile, the building owner, Mr. Yeo, who directly installed the controversial "Julie mural," expressed his thoughts on the 29th, saying, "The mural falls within the realm of freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution," and "I have no intention of removing it until Julie appears."

He claimed, "Since Kim Geon-hee, the wife of candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, herself says she is not Julie, how can anyone's honor be damaged by the mural?"

When asked, "Doesn't the mural contain expressions that could be interpreted as referring to candidate Yoon Seok-yeol or former prosecutor Yang?" he replied, "Currently, Julie has not appeared, and former prosecutor Yang and announcer Kim do not acknowledge any relationship with Julie, so can't we satirize with the mural?" He added, "If they admit to a relationship with Julie, it could be defamation, so I will remove the mural."

He said, "As the Julie controversy surrounding Kim Geon-hee unfolded, I asked an acquaintance (a painter) I know to install the mural. There is no political intention or backing," and claimed, "I don't understand why the People Power Party and conservative media, while saying Julie does not exist, make an issue out of the Julie mural. It is a form of expression guaranteed by the Constitution."

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