[Summary] "Wait, Mitongdang" Cha Myung-jin Sues Kim Jong-in for Labeling as 'Fake Conservative'

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is speaking at the expert meeting on the establishment of the Data Agency held at the National Assembly on the 11th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, has withdrawn his plan to recruit AI expert Professor Lee Kyung-jeon of Kyung Hee University as the head of the Yeouido Research Institute. This came after it was belatedly revealed that Professor Lee posted a Facebook message defending former candidate Cha Myung-jin’s 'Sewol ferry tent' remarks during the April 15 general election period. Former lawmaker Cha harshly criticized the United Future Party and announced he would sue Chairman Kim, saying, "Not only the leftists but also fake conservatives are enemies of the people."

Chairman Kim told reporters after an emergency committee meeting at the National Assembly on the morning of the 11th, "I thought it was inappropriate to bring someone with such noise to represent the party’s research institute, so I notified him by text this morning (to withdraw the offer), and he replied that it would be canceled."

He explained the background of the recruitment by saying, "I actually don’t know him well, but after some inquiries, I heard he had (AI, big data expertise), so I met him and made the offer."

However, when it was later revealed that Professor Lee defended former lawmaker Cha’s Sewol ferry-related remarks, the recruitment was withdrawn. Regarding criticism about inadequate personnel screening, Kim said, "There was no time to verify, and since I’m not an investigative agency, there was no way to verify. When the media raised the issue, we evaluated it and reached the conclusion (to withdraw)," he explained.

Cha Myung-jin, the United Future Party candidate running for the 21st general election in Bucheon B, Gyeonggi Province, is appealing for support from citizens while riding a campaign vehicle in the Sosa District area of Bucheon City, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of April 10.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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After the withdrawal decision, Professor Lee also posted on his Facebook on the same day, saying, "Those who love me told me not to take the (Yeouido Research Institute head) position, and those who like me told me to try it, so I thought about it a bit but decided to listen to those who love me."

In April, Professor Lee posted a message defending former United Future Party candidate Cha Myung-jin’s controversial 'Sewol ferry tent' remarks, saying, "If the problem is that the Sewol ferry remarks were offensive, it is also necessary to understand what those offensive remarks were about," which sparked controversy over his defense of Cha.

Meanwhile, former lawmaker Cha posted on his Facebook, "I apologize to Professor Lee. No, rather, I congratulate him. When a white heron goes where crows play, it only gets hurt," directly criticizing the United Future Party.

He added, "It’s fortunate that by entering that place full of swindlers, he won’t tarnish his career as a conscientious intellectual built over a lifetime."

Cha claimed, "What kind of work can you do with a group that cuts off those who speak the truth? Professor Lee’s humiliation today will eventually turn into a blessing in disguise." He then said, "That aside, I can’t stand it anymore. I am truly breaking up with the United Future Party," and added, "Not only the leftists but also fake conservatives are enemies of the people."

Cha announced, "As the first step, I will sue Kim Jong-in," claiming, "While serving as the election committee chairman, he made my expulsion a foregone conclusion without authority, causing serious damage to my votes in the preliminary election." He also said, "I will sue those who blindly followed him," and warned, "United Future Party, wait. You provoked first."

Cha ran for the Bucheon B constituency in Gyeonggi Province in the general election but was disciplined over the 'Sewol ferry tent' offensive remarks controversy. However, through a court decision, he was not expelled and ran as a United Future Party candidate but lost.

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