Lee Jong-won: “Choo Mi-ae’s Candidacy Was a Plot Co-orchestrated with Jung Cheong-rae and Kim Ou-joon”

In early November 2021, Lee Jong-won, CEO of SisaTapa, convened a national executive meeting of the Reform National Movement Headquarters (GaeGukBon) and mentioned former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's presidential primary candidacy. At this meeting, Lee Jong-won directly revealed that former Minister Choo Mi-ae's candidacy was a political plot he had planned together with Rep. Jung Cheong-rae and Kim Ou-joon.

This meeting was convened immediately after candidate Lee Jae-myung was selected as the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate in November 2021, to instruct GaeGukBon executives to support Lee Jae-myung. Attendees at the time testified that during a Q&A session with Busan headquarters directors, Lee Jong-won revealed the nature of the plot, saying, "Choo Mi-ae, you might not know it was an operation, but I'm telling you now. Choo Mi-ae, myself, Jung Cheong-rae, and Ou-joon hyung carried out a sophisticated political plot." Through this statement, Lee Jong-won appears to have intended to shift the support of GaeGukBon members, who had previously supported former Minister Choo Mi-ae, towards candidate Lee Jae-myung.

According to the testimonies of those present, Lee Jong-won at the time expressed suspicion about the purpose of the plot, stating, "Looking back now, it seems like they were creating such a plot to support Lee Nak-yeon." This is interpreted as an assertion that former Minister Choo Mi-ae was used to create a favorable situation for a specific candidate. Such remarks raise serious suspicions that certain forces intervened to manipulate public opinion during the presidential primary election.

According to a white paper obtained by NewTamSa, it states, "Choo Mi-ae was brought in to save Lee Jae-myung. It was an original operation." Lee Jong-won reportedly claimed that this operation was carried out to prevent former Minister Choo Mi-ae from advancing to the primary runoff. These remarks support the suspicion that Rep. Jung Cheong-rae and Kim Ou-joon were deeply involved in this operation, intensifying questions about the political maneuvers that took place behind the scenes of the presidential primary at the time.

After stating that former Minister Choo Mi-ae's candidacy was a political plot, Lee Jong-won asked the meeting attendees, "Surely no one here recorded this, right?" checking for recordings. This is interpreted as an attempt to guard against his remarks being leaked to the outside and to ask attendees to maintain secrecy.

A NewTamSa panelist offered an analysis that Lee Jong-won tends to speak the truth when he wants to boast. The panelist clarified, "Actually, whether there was a political plot or not, we haven't confirmed it yet," stating that the actual existence of the plot remains unconfirmed. However, Lee Jong-won's remarks can be seen as important circumstantial evidence suggesting that he acted with specific political intentions.

A NewTamSa panelist mentioned a recording in which Lee Jong-won said, "This is something to report to Ou-joon hyung," raising the possibility that Lee Jong-won had a 'prime contractor relationship' with Kim Ou-joon, beyond mere collaboration. This leads to the suspicion that Lee Jong-won's SisaTapa might have been under Kim Ou-joon's influence. This point suggests that Kim Ou-joon's broadcasts and Lee Jong-won's activities were organically linked.

A NewTamSa reporter directly urged Lee Jong-won, stating, "Lee Jong-won needs to sincerely clarify the reality of his statement that Choo Mi-ae's candidacy was a political plot he orchestrated with Jung Cheong-rae and Kim Ou-joon in front of the GaeGukBon executives in November 2021." Approximately 20 executives attended the meeting, and Lee Jong-won's remarks there are now escalating into serious allegations of a political plot. NewTamSa is demanding an explanation from Lee Jong-won regarding the veracity and specific details of his statement.

Regarding Lee Jong-won's remarks, NewTamSa requested factual confirmation via Telegram messages from Kim Ou-joon and Rep. Jung Cheong-rae, who were named as parties to the allegations. NewTamSa asked, "Lee Jong-won said in front of GaeGukBon executives in November 2021 that Choo Mi-ae's candidacy was a political plot by himself, Jung Cheong-rae, and Kim Ou-joon. Have you heard anything like this?" However, both individuals have so far not checked the messages and are avoiding a response. Some interpret their silence as avoiding the allegations or deeming them not worth responding to.

A NewTamSa reporter suggested two possibilities for why Kim Ou-joon and Rep. Jung Cheong-rae are silent. First, Lee Jong-won's remarks might be true. Second, they might have decided that the allegations are not even worth responding to. NewTamSa emphasized that these political plot allegations are highly explosive, pointing out that the silence of the parties involved could, in fact, amplify the suspicions.

A NewTamSa reporter raised two possibilities for why Kim Ou-joon and Rep. Jung Cheong-rae are silent. First, Lee Jong-won's statement might be true. Second, they might have decided that the allegations are not even worth responding to. NewTamSa emphasized that this political plot allegation is highly explosive, noting that the silence of the parties involved could actually amplify the suspicions.

A NewTamSa reporter categorized Kim Ou-joon, Rep. Jung Cheong-rae, and SisaTapa CEO Lee Jong-won as a 'one team' and re-examined their past actions. Kim Ou-joon had previously caused controversy with remarks seemingly defending then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol, and also showed a defensive stance towards Yoon during Newstapa's reporting on the Yoon Woo-jin bribery case. Furthermore, Kim Ou-joon is known to have been involved in the process of exposing the Kim Boo-sun case, an alleged scandal involving then-Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, through Hankyoreh newspaper. The reporter emphasized that these examples show the three individuals have closely collaborated for specific political purposes, and claimed that the current Choo Mi-ae candidacy plot allegations are an extension of this.