Lee Jong-won's 'Political Manipulation' Remark Included in White Paper

Newstamsa has announced follow-up reports concerning Sisa Tapa's Lee Jong-won and the People's Reform Movement Headquarters (GaeGukBon). It stated that internal documents containing "shocking content" would be disclosed in this report. The host raised expectations, saying, "Those who saw the title might wonder what it means; it's quite shocking content."

The People's Reform Movement Headquarters (GaeGukBon) began as the 'Dog Fight Movement Headquarters' during the Seocho-dong 'Protect Jo Guk' rallies. The host explained, "Originally, it was called the Dog Fight Movement Headquarters, ah, it was originally Dog Fight. They created the Dog Fight Movement Headquarters while holding the 'Protect Jo Guk' rallies in Seocho-dong, and that's what they refer to as the first GaeGukBon." Later, in March 2021, it was reorganized into a corporate body, the 'People's Reform Movement Headquarters'.

Newstamsa pointed out that the actual activities of GaeGukBon were primarily carried out by the dedication of local activists. The host claimed, "In fact, the real grunt work of this GaeGukBon was all done by the regions, and frankly, Lee Jong-won, by taking on the representative position in Seoul, often merely 'put a spoon on the table' of what these dedicated activists in the regions had prepared," suggesting that Lee Jong-won largely capitalized on the efforts of local activists while serving as a representative in Seoul.

The 'Honam White Paper' by GaeGukBon had been the subject of articles by reporters Heo Jae-hyun and Jung Su of Reporter Heo Jae-hyun in 2022, but it did not receive much attention at the time. However, it began to be re-analyzed recently due to a tip from reporter Jung Su. The host explained the background of its re-evaluation, saying, "But at the time, it didn't receive much attention, but recently reporter Jung Su gave me a tip, informing me that there was important content in it and to refer to it."

The GaeGukBon white paper includes content where Lee Jong-won himself directly stated, "I engaged in political manipulation," causing shock. Furthermore, the names of Kim Eo-jun and Jung Cheong-rae appear together in this white paper, amplifying the impact. The host emphasized that the appearance of their names was particularly surprising, stating, "He himself said he engaged in political manipulation. And with Kim Eo-jun and Jung Cheong-rae. I mean, the fact that Kim Eo-jun and Jung Cheong-rae's names appear here, that's what shocked me the most." This remark is known to have been made with the intention of exploiting then-presidential candidate Choo Mi-ae.

Lee Jong-won's 'political manipulation' remark is interpreted as being made in the context of politically exploiting then-presidential candidate Choo Mi-ae. The host explained, "The presidential candidate at the time, they just used her from their perspective of political manipulation, and it's not a remark in the sense that Choo Mi-ae herself conspired or participated in the political manipulation." This drew a line, clarifying that it does not mean Choo Mi-ae directly conspired or participated in the political manipulation.