American Professor Moss Tan Defends Former President Yoon at Eunpyeong Jeil Church… Claims Conspiracy Theory Against President Lee Jae-myung Again
Moss Tan, an American professor from Liberty University (Korean name: Dan Hyun-myung), visited Eunpyeong Jeil Church in Seoul to defend former President Yoon Suk-yeol and reiterated conspiracy theories against President Lee Jae-myung.
However, he failed to provide any credible evidence to support these conspiracy theories. He claimed that evidence exists but appeared to lack credibility.
On the afternoon of the 17th, around 2 PM, Professor Tan visited Eunpyeong Jeil Church in Jin-gwan-dong, Eunpyeong-gu, and held a meeting with former Korean history instructor Jeon Han-gil and others, continuing to assert that former President Yoon is "being politically persecuted." He also reiterated claims of "election fraud" and conspiracy theories regarding President Lee's past incarceration in a juvenile detention center.
While claiming to have evidence supporting his assertions, Professor Tan stated, "The basic principle when disclosing confidential information is to protect one's identity, so I will not reveal the source of the evidence."
Inside the church, there was much enthusiasm… Citizen organizations expressed opposition
As Professor Tan entered the church, some congregants waved Korean flags and the American flag, chanting "USA." Inside the church, a petition campaign urging the appointment of Tan as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea was also underway.
In contrast, outside the church, there was ongoing opposition from civil society and political groups.
About 60 individuals, including members of the Democratic Party of Korea’s Eunpyeong District Committee, YouTubers, and civil activists, held a protest rally in front of the church, shouting slogans like "Moss Tan must stop the false incitement immediately" and "Leave this land." Although there were exchanges of raised voices and insults between some congregants and participants in the rally, no physical clashes occurred due to police intervention.
Earlier that day, the Candlelight Action group held a press conference in front of the National Investigation Headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, claiming that "Moss Tan, who spreads false information, supports insurrection and incites riots, should be immediately arrested and detained."
Under investigation domestically… Controversy also in the U.S.
At a press conference held last month in Washington, D.C., Professor Tan stirred controversy by alleging that President Lee Jae-myung had been involved in a sexual assault and murder case during his youth and was incarcerated in a juvenile detention center.
The information relayed by Professor Tan is false. During the 2021 election phase in South Korea, rumors circulated online that then-Democratic Party candidate Lee had committed a serious crime during his youth and had been sent to a juvenile detention center.
The prosecution subsequently launched an investigation and confirmed that the rumors regarding Lee were false. It was also verified that he had not served time in a juvenile detention center. The individual who spread the rumors was later charged and sentenced to a fine in 2022.
Professor Tan has been reported for defamation and the dissemination of false information, and he is currently under investigation. The police have recently secured relevant materials and are conducting inquiries.
