Cheon Gong: "I never advised President-elect Yoon on 'Office Relocation'... He might have seen my video"

Lecture Video on 'Yongsan Utilization Plan' Released in 2018
"Never Advised Relocation Before, but Moving Yongsan Is the Right Thing to Do"

On the 23rd, broadcaster and Eastern philosopher Cheongong conducted an interview with YTN / Photo by YTN Broadcasting Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The internet broadcaster and Eastern philosophy scholar known as 'Cheongong Seuseung (Cheongong)', who was once suspected of being a 'mentor' to President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, drew a clear line regarding Yoon's decision to relocate the presidential office, stating, "I never gave any advice." However, he evaluated that if the presidential office is actually moved to Yongsan, Seoul, it would be a "well-done" decision.

On the 23rd, Cheongong said in an interview with YTN, "(The move to Yongsan) is really well done, very well done."

He added, "Although there is controversy now, once that area begins to shine and prosper, international dignitaries will greatly appreciate it," he claimed.

However, he flatly denied having given direct advice regarding the decision to move to Yongsan. Instead, he suggested that President-elect Yoon might have watched his videos in the past, saying, "Many people have watched (the videos). Many people watch and hope it resonates; it’s not that I am trying to give advice," emphasizing, "I made it so anyone can refer to and use it, not for any specific person."

Regarding the point that his office is located within 1.2 km of the current Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building, he responded, "It’s been nearly 10 years since I opened the office," and added, "Since Yongsan will be the place that prospers the most in Seoul in the future, I opened the office there."

Earlier, after President-elect Yoon confirmed plans to relocate the presidential office from the existing Blue House to the Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building, some netizens focused on a lecture video Cheongong uploaded to his YouTube channel in 2018.

This video was uploaded on August 16 of that year and contains Cheongong’s lengthy response to the question, "How should we utilize Yongsan?"

In 2018, Cheongong gave a lecture on the 'Yongsan Utilization Plan' / Photo by Cheongong, YouTube capture

In the video, Cheongong emphasized, "We must establish a park that is a cultural mecca. The Yongsan base should not be altered at all; it must become a cultural base."

He also explained, "A dragon must come to Yongsan. If the dragon just comes, it’s useless; it must bring the Yeouiju (a mythical orb). The Yeouiju represents law, and the dragon is not a mythical creature but a person who has become the best," he explained.

This led some to speculate whether President-elect Yoon decided to relocate the presidential office based on advice from Cheongong Seuseung. Critics pointed out that the president, as the highest national authority, moving the office is similar to Cheongong’s claim of "the dragon going to Yongsan."

Meanwhile, Cheongong has previously been embroiled in suspicions of giving "advice" to President-elect Yoon and his wife. This suspicion was also raised during the People Power Party’s presidential primary TV debate last October. Then-candidate Yoo Seung-min asked Yoon, "Do you know Cheongong Seuseung? A journalist interviewed him, and he said he ‘gives leadership lessons to candidate Yoon.’"

In response, Yoon denied, saying, "I have met him, but the claim that he is a mentor is exaggerated."

In an interview with a media outlet the same year, Cheongong said he met the Yoon couple several times but denied the allegations that he played a mentor role.

At that time, he said, "Mrs. Kim (Kim Geon-hee) contacted me, and I met them; since Yoon Seok-yeol was her husband, he came along. That’s how we got to know each other," adding, "I did provide coaching at the time, but after Yoon declared his presidential candidacy, we did not meet, and it is not a so-called mentor relationship."

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