Tak Hyun-min "CJ Lies to Cheong"... Also Mentions 'External Pressure' Allegations

Published 21 Apr.2022 10:10(KST)

Updated 21 Apr.2022 10:13(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Tak Hyun-min, Protocol Secretary at the Blue House, criticized on the 21st regarding President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's appearance on an entertainment program, saying, "CJ lied to the media by claiming they were not asked to appear." He also mentioned the suspicion of external pressure, stating, "I hope there was no external pressure regarding (Yoon's appearance)."

On the same day, Secretary Tak stated on his Facebook, "Regardless of whether President-elect Yoon appeared, there is a serious problem with CJ's lie to the Blue House."

President-elect Yoon appeared on the CJ ENM-affiliated entertainment program "You Quiz on the Block" (hereafter You Quiz) on the 20th. The program became controversial after reports revealed that a request for former President Moon's appearance was declined. Secretary Tak criticized CJ's statement that "there was no request received."

He pointed out, "At that time, after careful consideration, the production team conveyed their refusal through CJ's Strategic Support Team, stating that it did not fit the nature of the program, and we respected the production team's decision and did not make further requests. Nevertheless, CJ lied to the media by claiming they were not asked, which is a bigger problem than the lie itself."

Secretary Tak emphasized, "We accepted the production team's refusal without objection because we respected the program," adding, "We did not want any program to be influenced by external pressure."

He also mentioned the suspicion of external pressure regarding President-elect Yoon's appearance. The media that reported on the refusal of former President Moon's appearance noted that Kang Ho-sung, CEO of CJ ENM, had previously worked as a prosecutor at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office, suggesting a possible connection to Yoon's appearance.

Secretary Tak said, "I still want to believe that Yoon's appearance was solely the production team's decision," and added, "However, I hope there was no external pressure, and I only wish that the production team's judgment will continue to be the principle of production going forward."