'101-Year-Old Philosopher' Daughter's Letter... Jeong Cheolseung "Slandered Me as a Prank"

Professor Kim's Daughter Appeals for 'No Personal Attacks'
Professor Kim's Side: "Is It Okay to Blame It on a Joke? Truly a Bad Person"

Photo by Lawyer Jeong Cheol-seung and Yonsei University Professor Emeritus Kim Hyung-seok (from left). / Photo captured from Lawyer Jeong's Facebook, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Attorney Jeong Cheol-seung, legal representative of the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, criticized the author of a letter reported to have been sent to him by the daughter of "101-year-old philosopher" Kim Hyung-seok, Yonsei University Professor Emeritus, calling it "a prank by certain individuals."

On the 5th, Attorney Jeong posted on his social media service (SNS), "I heard rumors that the professor's daughter wrote something to me, but I have not read it," adding, "If his daughter had written to me, she would have sent it directly to me, but I never received such a letter. I firmly believe it is clearly a prank by some people."

He attached an article containing the letter's content and said, "After seeing the letter claimed to be from his daughter, it was a cunning slander against me. It also included statements I never made," adding, "It was written as if I criticized Professor Kim as a bad person simply because we had different opinions, but this is a crafty false distortion."

He continued, "I only criticized the interview Professor Kim gave to the Japanese right-wing media Sankei Shimbun," and "I politely conveyed that it would be better for Professor Kim to refrain from inappropriate remarks."

He then exclaimed, "I don't know who is playing such pranks, but isn't it too despicable?"

The Japanese Sankei Shimbun introduced related content on its website on the 30th and in its print edition on the 31st, stating that "101-year-old philosopher" Kim Hyung-seok, Honorary Professor at Yonsei University, responded to their interview request last July. Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, Attorney Jeong criticized Professor Kim on his Facebook on the 1st, saying, "This is why the old saying 'living long is dangerous' came about," because Kim criticized President Moon Jae-in in an interview with Japan's Sankei Shimbun.

He said, "Professor Kim never criticized the anti-democratic and anti-human rights actions of the Lee Seung-man regime. Only recently, after surpassing 100 years of age, has he started making critical remarks about the Moon Jae-in administration," adding, "Why is it that he only started doing this after becoming senile? If this is an aging phenomenon, it's a pitiful matter."

Subsequently, a person identifying herself as Professor Kim's second daughter, Ms. A, released a letter asking to "please refrain from personal attacks." Ms. A introduced herself as "an unremarkable grandmother in South Korea over seventy years old," and said, "My father not only met Kim Il-sung but also deeply believed that North Korea is a country without freedom where one cannot live as a human being."

Ms. A added, "Having lived through various regimes, I have witnessed police officers taking my father away after work more than once. Sometimes he returned home after three days. This was because he gave lectures unfavorable to the regime."

She then appealed to Attorney Jeong, saying, "'What does an old person know? They should just eat and die,' as you said, Attorney Jeong, is true. We, the elderly, who cannot keep up with many changes and generational gaps, should stay in the back room," but "though I am an ignorant old person, out of love and pain for my father, I dare to ask you. Criticism and disputes are natural, but please refrain from personal attacks."

Meanwhile, Professor Kim's side stated on the 6th in a reconfirmation interview with Chosun.com that "the letter was an open letter, and the author is indeed Professor Kim's daughter residing in the United States," and criticized Attorney Jeong, saying, "Is it okay to dismiss even a plea asking not to do this as a prank? Truly a bad person."

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