Jeon Han-gil, accused of defaming Lee Jae Myung and spreading a North Korea intervention theory about the May 18 pro-democracy movement, summoned for a fourth time: "Political retaliation"

[Financial News] Police have summoned Jeon Han-gil again, a former Korean history instructor turned YouTuber, on suspicion of defaming President Lee Jae Myung and Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, and spreading various false claims, including a theory that North Korea intervened in the May 18 pro-democracy movement.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Criminal Investigation Unit has been questioning Jeon, who is suspected of defamation under the Network Act and other charges, since the morning of the 23rd in his capacity as a suspect. This is his fourth police interrogation, following questioning on Feb. 12, Feb. 27 and April 1.
Police had previously investigated claims Jeon made about President Lee’s alleged overseas slush fund and extramarital child, as well as false claims that Lee Jun-seok had a Harvard University degree. In addition to those cases, police plan to verify the facts behind Jeon’s claims that North Korean troops intervened in the May 18 pro-democracy movement and that strategic oil reserves in Ulsan were shipped to North Korea.
At a press conference before the questioning, Jeon denied the main allegations. "I came here today to be questioned over six complaints and accusations," he said. "These are absurd complaints and accusations, and they amount to political retaliation. I will prove my innocence during the investigation."
Since last year, Jeon has been accused of spreading false claims on his YouTube channel that President Lee raised slush funds to flee overseas and passed military secrets to China. He was also reported by the DPK and others after raising rumors of an extramarital child between President Lee and Kim Hyun-ji, the Blue House’s first senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, and saying in effect that "many people would step forward if a bounty were placed on President Lee."
Regarding the slush fund allegation, Jeon said, "It was a one-sided claim raised by a guest on the program at the time," adding, "I repeatedly said on the broadcast that the guest’s position and ours were different."
In March, Jeon was sued after saying about Lee Jun-seok, "It has been revealed that Harvard University did not even have the concept of a double major at the time. Claiming that Lee double-majored in economics and computer science is a clear fraud against the public."
Jeon repeated his earlier claims, saying, "There has never been a single double major in economics at Harvard University. If that is true, Lee would be the first graduate in Harvard’s history to double major in economics." He added, "Lee said he had his academic credentials recognized by the police and the NEC, but both were deceived. He could simply present an apostille certificate, but he keeps making excuses."
That same month, Jeon was reported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for defamation by false statement and obstruction of business after raising the possibility on a broadcast that strategic oil reserves in Ulsan could be shipped to North Korea via China.
On that issue, he said, "The government said the oil was destined for Vietnam, but it has not been confirmed whether all of it actually arrived there," adding, "I do not think there was anything wrong with the reporting of the allegations."
In a YouTube broadcast in April, he also repeated the claim that "the May 18 uprising was an insurrection led by Kim Dae-jung’s camp and North Korea," and was reported by civic groups for violating the Special Act on the May 18 pro-democracy movement and related laws.
Jeon countered, "I aired the SkyDaily article because I believed it was true at the time, but later corrected it after learning it was a false report." He added, "If there are other claims about whether North Korean troops intervened, academia should determine the truth."
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