Lead Stories Korean - Society

Fact Check: Jun Hyun Moo Did Not Visit President Yoon Suk Yeol At The Seoul Detention Center

2025-04-01T08:23:43Z

Did Jun Hyun Moo visit President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Seoul Detention Center? No, that's not true: There was no evidence of Jun Hyun Moo visiting the Seoul Detention Center or meeting President Yoon.

The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) on February 26, 2025. The caption in the video reads, translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff:

Jun Hyun Moo visited President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Seoul Detention Center. He urgently visited the detention center to meet President Yoon.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Mar 7 01:23:43 2025 UTC)

A similar TikTok video (archived here) also claimed Jun Hyun Moo postponed filming the "I Live Alone" show to attend President Yoon Suk Yeol's trial as an observer. The caption in the video reads, translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff:

Jun Hyun Moo made a surprise appearance at President Yoon Suk Yeol's trial.
He postponed filming "I Live Alone" to attend the trial as an observer. Jun took an oath and watched the entire proceedings from start to finish. Representing a civic group, he reportedly declared his support for President Yoon's swift reinstatement. Following previous public statements from celebrities like Lim Young Woong, Park Na Rae, and Jang Yoon Jung, Jun also read a political declaration in the courtroom.

Upon hearing Jun's remarks, President Yoon expressed deep gratitude, stating that he was thankful for Jun's efforts in coming to the courtroom to help save the country. He added that thanks to Jun, he was able to carry on. During his final argument, President Yoon emphasized that he had tirelessly worked to protect and save the nation, and he sincerely appreciated the numerous top celebrities who participated in the political declaration. He further stated that South Korea remains strong because of the countless citizens, including Jun, who have stepped up to defend it. Without them, he claimed, he would not have made it this far, and he issued a nationwide message of appreciation.

Jun's loyalty has drawn widespread praise from netizens, and conservatives have expressed their deep appreciation, believing that thanks to Jun, the judges will be able to make the right decision. Some supporters even stated that Jun's courtroom presence was a crucial factor. Jun reportedly declared that he was willing to leave "I Live Alone" if necessary to participate in President Yoon's political declaration.

Jun Hyun Moo (archived here) is an entertainer and a long-time television personality host. He is currently part of hosting the show "I Live Alone," which airs every Friday. The show "I Live Alone" (archived here), which MBC broadcasts, did not have any special announcements regarding a postponement of the show in the past few months. Additionally, there were no official statements from Jun on his social media (archived here).

Also, Chosun News (archived here) stated that the Seoul Detention Center only allowed one general visit a day for President Yoon. Multiple news outlets have reported on individuals who visited President Yoon during his stay at the detention center (archived here). The Seoul Detention Center also had no official statements on its website under the press release section, which has not been updated since November 2024 (archived here).

On January 31, 2025, the senior staff (archived here), including the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, Hong Chul Ho, visited President Yoon. Later, on February 3, 2025, three prominent political figures met with President Yoon: People Power Party's emergency response chairman Kwon Young Se, Floor Leader Kwon Seong Dong, and Na Kyung Won.

Due to President Yoon's visitation limits at the detention center, only a majority of People Power Party lawmakers could meet him. This included People Power Party lawmakers Yoon Sang Hyun and Kim Min Jeon (archived here), who visited President Yoon on February 7, 2025. Five lawmakers (archived here), including People Power Party Kim Ki Hyun and former Floor Leader Choo Kyung Ho, visited the detention center on February 10, 2025.

There were no relevant Google search results (archived here) for "Jun Hyun Moo" and "Yoon Seok Yeol." The most recent news related to Jun was about dating rumors (archived here) with KBS announcer Hong Joo Yeon, who is 20 years younger than him.

Fact Check: Jang Yoon-jeong Did NOT Say She Supports Yoon Suk-yeol

2025-03-31T06:04:47Z

Did Trot singer Jang Yoon-jeong say she supports Yoon Suk-yeol? No, that's not true: She did not mention Yoon Suk-yeol or any related issue on her social media.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) published on TikTok on February 20, 2025, under the title "#뉴스 #정치 #윤석열" translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff as "#news #politics #YoonSukyeol. It opened:

Jang Yoon-jeong officially stated that she supports president Yoon Suk-yeol.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Feb 24 06:04:47 2025 UTC)

Jang Yoon-jeong did not release any official statement related to the ongoing impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol. There was no relevant news on the official website (archived here) of Jang's management company. According to a Google News Index search (archived here) conducted by Lead Stories staff on February 24, 2025, with the keywords 'Jang Yoon-jeong AND Yoon Suk-yeol', no news report from local press media implicates her support.

There was also no related post or video on Jang's Instagram (archived here) and YouTube; these are the only two social media accounts she has.

Jang Yoon-jeong is a famous Trot singer in South Korea. Trot is a South Korean music genre influenced by Japanese Enka and Korean folk music. Since most Trot music listeners are elderly people (archived here) who tend to be relatively more conservative, this claim has been shared among elderly Yoon supporters on various platforms, mainly on TikTok and YouTube (archived here).

Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Massive Rally By Supporters Of Impeached President Yoon Suk-Yeol In South Korea

2025-02-28T15:16:14Z

Does a viral video show a massive crowd at a rally by President Yoon Suk-Yeol's supporters in South Korea? No, that's not true: The video shows people gathered for the 2025 New Year countdown's celebrations in Nanchang, China.

The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) published on January 3, 2025, under the title "일어나라!축제 한 맺힌 함성!!! 윤석열 대통령 힘내세요," translated from Korean to English by Lead Stories staff as "Rise! it's a festival roar with grief!!! Cheer up President Yoon Suk-yeol." It opened:

I am crying for this.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Jan 17 00:16:13 2025 UTC)

The original video was uploaded by ShanghaiEye, (archived here) a YouTube channel run by the Shanghai Media Group (archived here). The original video's title was:

Thousands gather in Nanchang city centre releasing balloons to celebrate the New Year

(Source: YouTube screenshot taken on Mon Jan 20 08:46:47 2025 UTC)

The video was re-labeled, presented as a Yoon supporters' rally, and shared on TikTok. Even though on December 14, 2024, South Korea's Parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk-Yeol (archived here), massive pro-impeachment rallies were happening every Saturday, in the heart of Seoul.

Supporters of President Yoon, who is currently in prison and facing an investigation for his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country, have also organized rallies. With light sticks - originally for K-pop events - becoming a symbol of the pro-impeachment movement (archived here), Yoon supporters chose the traffic safety baton light, which is glowing red, as their symbol (archived here). Red has been a symbolic color for right-wing Koreans for over a decade and has been the official color of the governing conservative People Power Party (PPP) - President Yoon's party - since 2012 (archived here). Even though the party changed its name thrice in 13 years, it kept red as its symbolic color.

Fact Check: Chinese Spies Did NOT Manipulate South Korea's Elections And Get Arrested

2025-02-10T03:09:56Z

Did 99 Chinese spies manipulate South Korea's elections, get arrested, and then get sent to a U.S. military base in Japan? No, that's not true: The Korean National Election Commission (NEC) stated that this incident did not happen, and the United States Forces Korea (USFK) stated that they had no involvement regarding the alleged claim.

The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) on January 21, 2025. The caption in the video reads, translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff:

Declaration of war against Chinese spies - South Korea's indifference to espionage is severe.

99 Chinese spies have confessed to manipulating public opinion and rigging elections.

For 25 years, South Korea has been a lawless state. Spies have infiltrated and attempted to overthrow the nation's system.

The left-wing Democratic Party and its leader, Lee Jae-myung, are key figures in this effort and must be eliminated.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Wed Jan 29 00:52:30 2025 UTC)

The claim about 99 Chinese spies confessing to manipulating public opinion originated from an exclusive article (archived here) on Sky Daily published on January 16, 2025. The article claimed that martial law forces and the U.S. military conducted a joint operation to raid the NEC, and arrested 99 Chinese nationals, when martial law was declared - and quickly revoked - on December 3, 2024. The Chinese spies "confessed to all charges of election interference during interrogation by the U.S. military," it stated. The article further added the South Korean and U.S. military authorities sent the Chinese spies to a U.S. military base in Japan.

The content of the Sky Daily article was refuted by the NEC, with a statement (archived here) issued on January 17, 2025. The post reads, translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff:

There have been some media reports claiming that during martial law, 90 Chinese hackers staying at the National Election Institute were arrested by martial law forces. However, this is completely false.

There are also claims that these 90 Chinese hackers were arrested at the National Election Institute during martial law and later handed over to U.S. intelligence authorities for investigation. This, too, is entirely untrue.

During martial law, the National Election Institute was operating two training programs: a promotion course for Level 5 officials and a placement course for Level 6 officials, with a total of 119 National Election Commission (NEC) officials participating. Among them, 88 officials (36 in the Level 5 promotion course and 52 in the Level 6 placement course) and 8 external lecturers, totaling 96 people, stayed at the facility. Additionally, martial law forces never entered the National Election Institute building.

In an exclusive article (archived here) reported by News1, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Cyber Investigation Unit announced they started investigating a complaint filed by the NEC against Sky Daily for obstruction of official duties and defamation on January 20, 2025.

Along with the NEC's press release, the USFK also posted on X (archived here) to refute the article's claim concerning the U.S. military's involvement in the alleged incident on January 20, 2025. The post reads (spelling as in the original, see screenshot below):

The depiction of U.S. Forces and the allegations in the mentioned ROK media article are entirely false. U.S. Forces Korea remains committed to it's mission of maintaining stability and security on the Korean Peninsula in accordance with the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty. We urge responsible reporting and fact-checking to prevent the spread of misinformation that could harm public trust.

(Source: X screenshot taken on Feb 10, 2025 at 17:08:13 UTC)

After both official statements were issued by the NEC and USFK discrediting Sky Daily's exclusive article, several other media outlets, such as Chosun Ilbo, Yonhap News, JTBC News, Hankyoreh, and The Korean Herald similarly reported about Sky Daily's false allegations (archived here, here, here, here, and here).

Fact Check: President Yoon Suk Yeol's Approval Rating Did NOT Exceed 40 Percent After Impeachment In 2024

2025-01-14T01:47:00Z

Did President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating increase by 10.1 percent in 2024, exceeding 40 percent, after he was impeached? No, that's not true. Although a video circulating on social media in January 2025 claimed that President Yoon's approval rating rose 10.1 percent in two months to 40.3 percent, the quoted rating was from a survey conducted between December 26 and 27, 2022.

The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) published on January 5, 2025, under the title, "윤석열 대통령 지지율 40% 돌파! 탄핵이후 지지율 오르는 상황 본적 있습니까? 국민들이 깨어나고 있다는 증거입니다," translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff as "President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating exceeds 40 percent! Have you ever seen a president's approval rating rise after impeachment? This is proof that people are becoming aware."

The headline of the screenshotted article shown in the video reads, as translated from Korean into English:

President Yoon's Approval Rating is 40.3%, Rose 10.1% in Two Months.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Jan 10 01:47:00 2025 UTC)

The screenshotted headline in the video is originally from a Chosun Ilbo article (archived here) published on January 2, 2023, and updated on January 8, 2024. President Yoon was inaugurated as the 20th President of South Korea on May 10, 2022 (archived here). Chosun Ilbo stated they commissioned an opinion poll company, Case Stat Research, for the 2023 New Year's special poll on the newly inaugurated president. The survey was conducted from December 26 to 27, 2022, when President Yoon's approval rating was 40.3 percent. However, 51.8 percent of the respondents said he was "doing poorly."

Similarly, a Gallup opinion poll showed President Yoon's approval rating as 37 percent in the first week of January 2023, while 54 percent of the respondents gave a negative evaluation (archived here). Real Meter, another polling company, also released an opinion poll on December 9, 2024, which conducted a two-month survey of President Yoon (archived here). The poll revealed that 79.2 percent of around 1,000 respondents disapproved of President Yoon, and his approval rating was down to 17.3 percent within the first week of December 2024, after he declared martial law. Gallup also released a comprehensive opinion poll of President Yoon on December 27, 2024 (archived here). The survey showed a year-long nationwide approval rating of President Yoon in 2024: According to Gallup's monthly presidential performance evaluation, (archived here), President Yoon's approval rating never surpassed 40 percent in 2024 and drastically declined to 13 percent in December (due to Yoon's martial law announcement) (archived here).

Fact Check: Proposed 'Anti-discrimination Act' Did NOT Include 'Homosexuality Education' Or 'Ladies' Restroom Access For Anyone Who Claims To Be A Woman'

2024-11-27T09:00:19Z

Did a proposed bill named 'Anti-discrimination Act' mandate 'homosexuality education' and 'unlimited access to ladies' restrooms for those who claim to be women?' No, that's not true: There was no related article in the bill. In addition, the bill did not pass and 'expired' when the Parliament term during which it was proposed ended.

The claim originated from a video (archived here) published on TikTok on October 28, 2024, under the title "차별 금지법의 위험성" or "The harm of Anti-discrimination Act" (translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff). It opened, as translated by Lead Stories staff:

The reason that Anti-discrimination Act should not be established; if someone declares himself 'I am woman from this afternoon' he can use the ladies' bathroom and women's sauna from then.

Children should get homosexuality education from the age of 4, and when a child wants sex reassignment surgery, parents would be punished for domestic abuse if they oppose the surgery.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Nov 4 09:48:19 2024 UTC)

According to the bill proposal (archived here) of MP Jang Hye-young (Justice Party) (archived here), the Anti-discrimination Act was a bill for human rights, prohibiting discrimination in public and private sector based on sex, disability, age, language, nationality, ethnicity, skin color, birthplace, appearance, marriage, pregnancy or giving birth, the form of family, religion, ideas or political opinions, former criminal records, sexual orientation, gender identity, and level of education.

Certain Christian groups are opposing (archived here and here) the establishment of any such bill due to the protections the Anti-discrimination Act offered regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. These Christian groups have claimed there is a 'right form of love' and that the Act would hinder the freedom of speech. The Anti-discrimination Act, though, didn't mandate 'homosexuality education' in elementary schools, nor did it 'grant access to ladies' restrooms for anyone who claims to be a woman.'

In recent years, three similar bills were proposed during the 21st term of the National Assembly (May 2020-April 2024): MP Jang Hye-young (Justice Party) proposed the Anti-discrimination Act (archived here) in 2020, which the TikTok refers to. This was followed by two bills named Act of Equality, one (archived here) from MP Lee Sang-min (The Democratic Party) (archived here) and another one (archived here) from MP Park Ju-min (DP) (archived here). However, none of these bills included mentions of 'homosexuality education' or 'ladies' restroom access for anyone who claims to be a woman.' Nor did they pass, when the Parliament's term ended. At the time of writing, no bill with similar content or purpose has been proposed to the National Assembly (archived here and here), now the 22nd, scheduled to be in office until 2028 (archived here), but some Christian groups keep been vocal, trying to prevent the introduction of similar laws.

Fact Check: A Tea Made With Bitter Melon Does NOT Cure Diabetes

2024-11-07T01:38:01Z

Can drinking tea made with bitter melon "make diabetes disappear" because of some specific substances it contains? No, that's not true: While the tropical vine has been linked to lowering blood sugar, it cannot cure diabetes. There is currently no permanent cure for diabetes but approved treatments help manage the condition.

The claim originated from a TikTok video (archived here) published on September 25, 2024. It opened, as translated from Korean to English by Lead Stories staff:

If you drink a glass of this on an empty stomach in the morning, diabetes will disappear. Bitter melon, also called 'edible insulin,' has long been known and famous for being a good food for managing blood sugar levels. Charantin, the natural insulin in bitter melon, and polypeptide components are abundant in the fruit and seeds of bitter melon. According to the Rural Development Administration data, bitter melon contains various substances that effectively prevent diabetes. Among them, charantin and polypeptide, compounds similar to insulin, have excellent anti-diabetic effects. To consume bitter melon most effectively, it's recommended to lightly roast it and drink it as tea. The beneficial compounds that help regulate blood sugar in bitter melon are a mix of fat-soluble and water-soluble substances, so if you lightly roast bitter melon and brew it into tea, you can consume all of the compounds without leaving anything behind.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Tue Oct 8 01:38:01 2024 UTC)

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is a vine mainly cultivated in Southeast Asia and has been used in many regions for a long time as a medicinal herb (archived here). According to the Korean Rural Development Administration data, the video's claim of bitter melon containing various substances that effectively prevent diabetes comes from a study (archived here) that examined the effects of bitter melon alcohol extract on rats. The study showed a 25 percent reduction in blood sugar levels in rats after administering domestically produced bitter melon extract.

Bitter melon has been used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, as four small clinical trials (archived here) found it to have a moderate effect. However, the study also noted that although bitter melon may have hypoglycemic (archived here) effects, there is insufficient data to recommend it to patients without supervision and monitoring.

One study (archived here) stated that in silico (computer simulation) and in vivo studies on bitter melon confirmed that charantin was one of the anti-diabetic properties of bitter melon. In a 12-week randomized clinical study (archived here) on Korean prediabetic participants, aside from charantin, polypeptide-p, vicine, and momordin analogs, other substances were also found in bitter melon that were linked to blood sugar regulation.

Lead Stories contacted registered dietician Diana Mesa, a diabetes specialist from the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES). In an interview conducted by email on October 4, 2024, Mesa noted that while a body of research has shown bitter melon may lower blood sugar when consumed, many of those studies have been short-term and conducted on animals and have not definitively shown that bitter melon cures diabetes. According to Mesa:

Several studies show that compounds such as charantin, polypeptide-p, and other plant compounds found in the plant can enhance glucose uptake in cells, which means that they can help blood sugar get into the cell, similarly to insulin. However, more information is needed to better understand exactly how it impacts humans and which compounds do what.

Mara Fiorio, registered dietician and certified diabetes educator, as listed in her LinkedIn profile, another diabetes specialist from ADCES (archived here), confirmed to Lead Stories bitter melon cannot definitively cure diabetes and also noted it was not an FDA-approved treatment. Fiorio wrote in an email to Lead Stories on October 4, 2024:

Bitter melon cannot definitively 'cure' diabetes, though it has been linked to lowering blood sugar due to properties that mimic insulin, helping transport glucose into cells for energy. Research suggests that bitter melon may help cells use glucose more efficiently potentially aiding in blood sugar management. However, despite these effects, bitter melon is not an FDA-approved treatment for diabetes or prediabetes. Studies, such as one from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, found that while bitter melon reduced fructosamine levels in participants with type 2 diabetes, it was less effective than a conventional diabetes medication. A Cochrane Database review also called for further research to evaluate its therapeutic use. Therefore, while bitter melon may be consumed as part of a healthy diet, it should not be relied upon as a primary treatment for diabetes management due to insufficient evidence and potential risks.

There is currently no permanent cure for diabetes (archived here), but there are therapies and lifestyles that can help manage (archived here) the condition.

Fact Check: Emergency Room Doctors CAN Refuse To Treat Patients On 'Justifiable Grounds' In South Korea

2024-10-11T05:15:40Z

Is it true that South Korean doctors cannot refuse to treat patients who are already in a hospital's emergency room? No, that's not true: Emergency medical personnel can reject a patient in the ER if there are "justifiable grounds."

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) that was published on TikTok, on September 7, 2024, under the title "응급실 대란 꿀팁 ㄷㄷ" translated into English by Lead Stories staff as "Astonishing life hack for the shortage of emergency medical service." It opened, translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff:

These days, lots of people have been hitting emergency rooms and still get rejected... There is a life hack for this; if you are not in a deadly severe condition, you should not call the ambulance; drive to the ER instead.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Sep 27 05:15:40 2024 UTC)

The author of the video claims that if emergency medical personnel refuse treatment for a patient who is already in the ER, the hospital is legally liable in case the patient dies or is severely ill due to being rejected. A similar claim has been shared on YouTube (archived here).

Due to the prolonged trainee doctors strike (archived here) and its impact on the healthcare system, South Korea faces a shortage of doctors, especially in emergency medical services. With this background, this claim went viral on the Korean side of the internet. The key supportive detail for the claim is that if emergency medical personnel reject their patients, it is a violation of Article 6 (2) of the Emergency Medical Service Act (archived here), which states, as translated:

Where emergency medical personnel receive a request for emergency medical services or find an emergency patient while on duty, they shall immediately perform emergency medical services, and shall neither refuse nor evade performance of emergency medical services without justifiable grounds.

However, the Ministry of Health issued new guidelines on September 13, 2024 (archived here), specifying that emergency medical workers may exceptionally refuse medical care to a patient if there is a justifiable reason. "Justifiable grounds" mentioned in Article 6 (2) include various circumstances, as translated by Lead Stories staff:

These are examples of the 'justifiable grounds' for refusing treatment; first, when the patient or the patient's guardian halts emergency medical personnel's normal medical practice using violence, intimidation, or destructing equipment, that will be justifiable ground for the refusal or avoidance of treatment. Second, if the emergency medical personnel cannot perform proper emergency medical practice due to unavailable communication systems or electricity, or shortage of staff, facilities, or equipment, it is justifiable ground for the refusal or avoidance of treatment.

In short, the Ministry clarified that emergency medical personnel could reject patients due to the current staff shortage, regardless of whether they rode in an ambulance or arrived at the ER with their own transportation.

Fact Check: US VP Harris Did NOT Say She Is In Favor Of South Korea Having Nuclear Weapons

2024-09-13T05:04:53Z

Did Kamala Harris say she approves South Korea to have nuclear weapons? No, that's not true: The U.S. vice president, who is campaigning for the 2024 U.S. presidency, stressed, instead, the importance of a "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

The claim originated from a video (archived here) published on TikTok on July 31, 2024, under the Korean title "[속보] 해리스 대선중 한국 핵무장 파격발표 오늘부로 한국의 위치는 완전히 바뀔겁니다 한국 핵개발 승인 48시간 후 벌어질 일 180도 달라진 한미동맹 리뉴얼에 전세계 발칵3" translated into English by Lead Stories staff as: "[Breaking News] Harris said the Republic of Korea would have nuclear weapons, during her presidential campaign. From today, South Korea's role internationally will be completely changed. Things would happen in 48 hours after South Korea's nuclear weapon plan is approved; a totally renewed Republic of Korea-United States alliance will shock the World - Part 3."

It stated U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told the Washington Post (translated from Korean by Lead Stories staff):

Various opinions have been exchanged. However, it is clear that if a ROK-US alliance is renewed by allowing South Korea's own nuclear weapon, the role of South Korea on the international society will be totally different at that point.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Aug 2 05:04:53 2024 UTC)

The author of the TikTok post claims Harris said she would renew the Republic of Korea-United States alliance by allowing South Korean nuclear weapons during her U.S. 2024 presidential campaign. However, there was no report of such words allegedly by Harris on the Washington Post website, (archived here) as of September 4, 2024, even though the author of the TikTok post claimed the Washington Post reported the alleged comment by Harris. Moreover, according to a Google news search (archived here) conducted by Lead Stories staff on September 4, 2024, no news report from any media outlets would confirm that Harris had said that.

Vice President Harris had stressed (archived here and here) in the past the importance of the Republic of Korea-United States alliance and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In her South Korea visit in 2022 (archived here), VP Harris said:

Our shared goal -- the United States and the Republic of Korea -- is a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Moreover, Vice President Harris did not mention South Korean nuclear weapons in her X (formerly Twitter account (archived here) or on Facebook after she began her campaign for president on July 21, 2024.

Fact Check: K-Pop Group TripleS Member Kim Na Kyoung Is NOT An Olympic Badminton Player And Did NOT Win Gold At The 2024 Paris Games

2024-08-05T13:42:13Z

Is K-Pop group tripleS member Kim Na Kyoung an Olympic badminton player who won the gold medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics? No, that's not true: There is no evidence on the official Olympics website to suggest that tripleS member Kim Na Kyoung competed in the Olympics as a badminton player, as she is not part of the national team.

The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) published on TikTok on July 28, 2024. The video had received over six million views and over 900,000 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. Several other TikTok videos (archived here and here and here) claimed that tripleS member Kim Na Kyoung won the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The caption of the video, in English, read:

This girl who plays badminton in the Olympics representing South Korea is so fine.

#nakyoung #kimnakyoung #olympics #kpop #triples #nakyoungtriples

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Aug 2 13:42:13 2024 UTC)

According to the official Olympics website (archived here), the South Korean badminton team consisted of four men and eight women at the Paris 2024 Games. The eight female players were An Se Young, Kim Ga Eun, Lee So Hee, Baek Ha Na, Kim So Young, Gong Hee Yong, Chae Yu Jeong, and Jeong Na Eun. An Se Young did win the gold medal in the women's badminton singles on August 5, 2024, beating He Bingjiao, from China (archived here). The Olympics website (archived here) also stated the South Korean badminton team won a silver medal in mixed doubles (Kim Won Ho and Jeong Na Eun) against the Chinese team (Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong).

The Olympic uniform worn by tripleS member Kim Na Kyoung in the viral TikTok video was the official uniform (archived here) the Korean national team wore in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (archived here). The official uniform was to be worn at the opening and closing ceremonies at the Tokyo Olympics by the South Korean national team. Another tripleS member, Yoon Seo Yeon, was seen wearing the same uniform at a fan sign meeting event (archived here) on July 21, 2024.

This is what Yoon was seen wearing on YouTube (archived here):

(Source: YouTube screenshot taken on Fri Aug 2 14:27:44 2024 UTC)

Although tripleS members do not have individual social media accounts, the official tripleS account (archived here) on X (formerly known as Twitter) also did not make any announcements concerning their fellow members, Kim Na Kyoung or Yoon Seo Yeon, competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics as badminton players.

Fact Check: Former First Lady Kim Jeong Sook Did NOT Steal Clothing From 2018 Diplomatic Visit To India

2024-07-09T09:34:33Z

Did former First Lady Kim Jeong Sook steal clothing from her diplomatic visit to India in 2018? No, that's not true: former First Lady Kim Jeong Sook altered the sari she was gifted by the former First Lady of India Savita Kovind into a blouse and wore it to a diplomatic luncheon with Kovind in 2018.

The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) where it was published on June 5, 2024, under the title "김정숙의 옷 절도 사건," or "Kim Jeong Sook's Clothing Theft Case," as translated into English by Lead Stories staff. The video claimed Kim's decision to alter the gift she received from Kovind violated the Presidential Records Management Act, as translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff:

There was nothing that went right when Kim Jeong Sook went to India. There was a problem with the clothing she wore, too. During Kim Jeong Sook's first visit to India, she received a sari, a traditional Indian garment, as a gift. This is a fabric that is more than ten meters long. According to Korean law, gifts received as state guests must be handed over to the Presidential Archives, and damaging these gifts is out of the question. This is all included in the Presidential Records Management Act. If the gifts are damaged or exposed in any way, this is punishable by up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won. But this was the moment Kim Jeong Sook's true personality was revealed. "It's a gift I received, so I can't do what I want with it? If I make the gift into a blouse and wear it, then they [India] will like it more. Make the gift into a blouse." Kim Jeong Sook took the presidential plane alone and wore the blouse the second time she visited India. "Ta-da, I made the gift you got me into a blouse. Isn't it pretty?" What is it like to damage a gift at will and casually show it to them? "The gift you gave me wasn't pretty, so I made it into a blouse." This is an attitude of disrespect, and the bigger problem was that Kim took this blouse home with her. Did anyone try to stop her?

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Tue Jun 25 14:01:52 2024 UTC)

The claim arose as Kim's first solo trip to India stirred controversy (archived here) following former President Moon Jae In's recent memoir (released in May 2024) that detailed and praised his wife's first solo diplomatic trip. The People Power Party criticized Kim for using an extravagant amount of taxpayers' money to fund her so-called "luxury in-flight meals" (archived here) on her solo trip to India, which Lead Stories staff previously reported. People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seok Ki further scrutinized Kim's solo trip to India as he held a press conference (archived here) on June 5, 2024, calling for a special prosecution on allegations of unauthorized release of presidential records. PPP lawmaker Kim stated, as translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff:

There were a total of 13 items transferred and stored by the Presidential Archives related to the saris former First Lady Kim received as gifts from the former Indian president's wife, and among these, the altered blouse worn by Kim was not kept.

The Presidential Records Management Act (archived here) refers to articles and records produced and received by the following organizations: the president, the president's assistance agencies, advisory agencies, and organizations that perform security duties. The articles and records refer to presidential symbols with national preservation value, presidential gifts received from citizens in connection with the performance of the president's duties, and the president's private records. Private records include the president's private diary or documents related to the president's political activities that do not directly affect the president's duties.

In 2018, The Blue House, the former official residence and executive office of the President of the Republic of Korea, posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) (archived here) the red blouse made from one of the saris gifted by Kovind that Kim wore to a luncheon in India. The post also included Kim's explanation of the meaning behind the altered blouse, as translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff: "I made the blouse on purpose for the prosperity of Korea and India, and I will wear it well."

This is what the post looked like on X at the time of writing:

(Source: X screenshot taken on Tue Jun 25 14:37:08 2024 UTC)

The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs also posted a press release (archived here) about Kim's attendance at the luncheon hosted by Kovind on November 5, 2018. The post also articulated the significance of the altered sari as Kim made it into a blouse with "hope that Koreans would share the philosophy and culture of India and that the two countries would be able to cultivate closer ties." During this luncheon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported that Korean songs were performed with Indian traditional instruments to "convey the symbolism of Kim's visit to India and the long-running special relations between the two countries."

Although the sari is considered a diplomatic gift and applicable under the Presidential Records Management Act, it was not damaged or used for personal purposes. Rather, the sari was repurposed into a blouse for diplomatic reasons, as former President Moon Jae In posted on both X (archived here) and Facebook (archived here) on June 6, 2024, outlining the significance of the repurposed blouse.

Moon stated that his wife wore the altered sari to several official diplomatic events, including a meeting with the former Indian foreign minister, and an IT technology-based class at the ASN Comprehensive School in New Dehli (archived here). In the Facebook post, Moon stated the alteration of the sari was a form of fashion diplomacy, as he also wore a traditional Indian garment vest gifted by former Prime Minister Modi. Moon also stated that according to media reports at the time, congressmen confirmed in July 2018 (after Kim's first visit to India) that out of the 13 sets of saris, Kim received as gifts, all except for the altered sari were kept as presidential records. Moon claimed that The Blue House treated the saris as presidential records rather than personal belongings at the time and that the singular altered sari served good diplomatic purposes. At the end of the Facebook post, Moon wrote, as translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff:

Is this to blame? Isn't it good? What's more, isn't it pathetic to criticize something that happened six years ago and insist on a special prosecution? Let's do some decent politics, please.

Fact Check: GFRIEND's Disbandment And Hand Sign In ILLIT's Song Are NO Evidence HYBE Is Related To Cult

2024-06-05T07:11:02Z

Did multinational entertainment company HYBE disband GFRIEND, a girl pop group, on a specific date with a particular meaning - May 1, 2021, - and is this proof, along with other signs in songs of other HYBE artists such as ILLIT, that they are related to a cult called 'Dahn World'? No, that's not true: GFRIEND was not disbanded on that date, and certain moves in a song by ILLIT don't prove the alleged association with the above-mentioned cult.

The claim appeared in a video (archived here) published on TikTok, on April 28, 2024, under the title "지금 난리난 하이브 사이비썰" or "It has gone viral now; HYBE is a cult," as translated into English from Korean by Lead Stories staff. It opened, as translated:

There is f**king terrifying story about HYBE.
GFRIEND's album name = Walpurgis Night
Walpurgis Night = The day burning the witch
GFRIEND disbanded on May 1
LE SSERAFIM debut May 2
They burnt (disbanded) the witch and serrafim (angel) debuted the next day

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri May 10 03:04:56 2024 UTC)

The video claims that the former HYBE girl group GFRIEND was disbanded on May 1, a symbolic date that, according to the poster, has a religious meaning. The rumored claim related to some alleged cult to which HYBE artists would belong to, is reiterated by another TikTok video (archived here) claiming that a hand sign in the song Magnetic of HYBE artists ILLIT shows they are part of the Dahn World cult.

However, both claims are false. GFRIEND's disbandment was announced on May 18, 2021 (archived here and here) and it happened on May 23, 2021. Plus, the alleged "suspicious" hand sign in ILLIT's song Magnetic is a common hand sign used in heavy metal.

GFRIEND's disbandment was an unexpected event for all the K-Pop fans. At that point, GFRIEND was one of the most popular K-pop bands in South Korea, but their label, Source Music, a member label of HYBE family, suddenly announced the termination of their contract. It is standard for K-pop artists and their music labels to establish a seven-year-long contract when they debut. It is a big issue for fans whether individual members of a boy band or a girl group renew the team contract or not. Due to this reason, when the contract is about to end, negotiations between the artists and the label are covered extensively by the press. However, in GFRIEND's case, the termination of the contract was announced just five days before, leaving fans shocked (archived here), and considering it a mystery.

After Source Music released their new girl group 'LE SSERAFIM' on May 2, 2022, the fans concluded the disbanding was for the new project, LE SSERAFIM. However, conspiracy theories started to circulate, also because of reports of internal problems within HYBE. The biggest music management company in South Korea is currently in conflict with Min Hee-jin, a legendary music producer and current CEO of the HYBE Label ADOR, for an alleged attempt to usurp management rights, according to The Korea Herald (archived here). As the internal conflict heated, the conspiracy theory against HYBE went viral: Rumors started to circulate (archived here) that HYBE is allegedly owned by Dahn World believers (archived here), and that several cult signs were allegedly sneaked into HYBE artists' music and performance.

In this context, the claim 'HYBE disbanded GFRIEND for the LE SSERAFIM because of the cult' also went viral. As the TikTok video claimed, GFRIEND's last album was '回:Walpurgis Night' (archived here). The video claims 'Walpurgis night' means 'the night of the burning of the witch' and in this case, GFRIEND was disbanded like a witch is burnt on Walpurgis night. Since traditionally, the Walpurgis night is April 30, the video claims this is clearly related to the cult. However, besides the fact that GFRIEND was disbanded on a different date, Walpurgis night itself is not a witch hunt event per se. According to Britannica (archived here):

Walpurgis Night, a traditional holiday celebrated on April 30 in northern Europe and Scandinavia. In Sweden typical holiday activities include the singing of traditional spring folk songs and the lighting of bonfires. In Germany the holiday is celebrated by dressing in costumes, playing pranks on people, and creating loud noises meant to keep evil at bay.

Dahn World is a South Korean meditation enterprise, with 280 local meditation centers (archived here) nationwide. They promote non-religious meditation for better physical and mental health. Dahn World has been developing and spreading its unique 'meditation gymnastics' as a part of a healthy lifestyle. Even though multiple religious studies (archived here, here, and here) labeled Dahn World as a 'new religion' or 'religious group,' such studies also point Dahn World has no cult characteristics. Dahn World identifies itself as an enterprise. In the statement posted on its website on May 2, 2024, Dahn World said, translated from Korean by Lead Stories staff:

Dahn World is a health education enterprise, established in 1985, based on humanitarian ideals and has been developed for modern people Korean meditation - 'K-meditation' - using the scientific and academic measures, not a religious group.

K-meditation is not a religious ritual, it is scientific physical, mental, brain health training program for everyone.

The other sub-claim related to HYBE's newly debuted band 'ILLIT' went viral as well. Their hit song, Magnetic, is famous for the iconic hand sign; making hand horns with both hands. A second TikTok video, already mentioned above, claims these a part of the song's dance move originate from Dahn World's meditation gymnastics:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Tue May 21 03:01:14 2024 UTC)

However, the hand sign image is completely unrelated to Dahn World; A Google Lens search (archived here) conducted by Lead Stories on May 21, 2024, shows the image has been repeatedly shared as a heavy metal hand sign, mainly on social media posts related to the metal music.

The video also claims that there is another Dahn World-originated dance move in ILLIT's other song, 'Lucky Girl Syndrome':

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Tue May 21 03:01:14 2024 UTC)

The image, with the man putting his hands on his head, actually can be related to Dahn World's meditation gymnastics. In an online article by 'K-spirit' (archived here) about 'meditation gymnastics good for headache,' the author describes the image as from the Dahn World method.

Addressing claims on alleged HYBE and Dahn World's ties, Dahn World stated that they are not a cult and not related to HYBE (archived here and here), on its official YouTube channel (archived here) on May 3 and May 4, 2024, as translated from Korean by Lead Stories staff:

Dahn World Corporation clearly state the claim is not based on facts, and we are planning strong legal action against spreading misinformation and slander, causing economic loss for the corporation.

The false accusation of Dahn World being a cult is ridiculous, from a tiny number of ignorant people who are denying (Korean) national spirit, falling for wrong beliefs, claiming their own religion is the only truth.

While HYBE did not release any statement at a company level, Big Hit Music, the first label of the HYBE family, also denied the claim. In an announcement (archived here), posted on May 2, 2024, on their fan community Weverse, in Korean and English, they state:

We would like to clarify that the recent allegations [...] of affiliations with Dahn World or any religious cults are completely false.

Fact Check: Half-Cut Control Number On Ballot Is NOT Evidence Of Rigged Election In South Korea

2024-05-03T08:35:33Z

Did the South Korean government rig the 2024 parliamentary election because ballots with half-cut control numbers were found? No, that's not true: A half-cut control number on the ballot does not signify an irregular vote. The Constitutional Court already refuted a similar claim in 2023.

The claim originated from a video (archived here) published on TikTok on April 22, 2024, under the title "쏟아지는 4.10 부정선거 물증" or "Bunch of evidence confirming 4.10 election was rigged are coming out," translated from Korean to English by Lead Stories staff. It opened, as translated:

If election workers are busy, or unskilled, or not careful, they can issue the ballot with an uncut control number. However, they cannot issue a ballot with a half-cut control number.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Sun Apr 28 10:35:33 2024 UTC)

The video claims that a ballot with a half-cut control code was used, and this is allegedly evidence of the legislative elections (archived here) that took place in South Korea on April 10, 2024, being rigged. However, this is false, as both the National Election Commission (NEC) and the Constitutional Court have stated that cutting out the control number on the ballot is not essential for the election's integrity.

The claim in the TikTok video suggests that cutting out the control number of the ballot is fundamental to guarantee the vote's validity. However, the NEC has accepted ballots with the control number as valid votes (archived here) for more than 10 years, even though the control number is supposed to be cut out when the ballot is issued to the voter.

Moreover, in 2023, there was an appeal to the Constitutional Court for regulations related to control numbers on electoral ballots. In the court ruling (archived here), the Constitutional Court said the control number is not essential for the election's integrity. There are several other measures to ensure the election's integrity.

Fact Check: Democratic Party Leader Lee Jae-myung Did NOT Pledge To Reunify Korea, Withdraw US Troops Or Unconditionally Thank China

2024-04-29T08:39:03Z

Did Democratic Party Leader Lee Jae-myung commit to pledges such as an end-of-war declaration, withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea, transition to a lower-level federal system, North Korean-style absorption reunification, dissolution of conglomerates, dismantling of churches, and unconditionally thanking China? No, that's not true: No evidence was found to suggest that Lee made such pledges on the official Democratic Party platform.

The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) published on April 16, 2024. The text in the video read in English (as translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff):

Lee Jae Myung's pledges:

End-of-war declaration

Withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea

Transition to a lower-level federal system

North Korean-style absorption reunification

Dissolution of conglomerates

Dismantling of churches

Unconditionally thanking China

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Mon Apr 22 14:48:40 2024 UTC)

Although talks about peace on the Korean peninsula have occurred, there was no evidence to suggest that Lee officially wanted to issue a declaration to end the Korean War, as such a step would involve complex diplomacy. In a live broadcast (archived here) of Lee meeting with the delegation of peace action on the Korean Peninsula for the 70th anniversary of the armistice on July 4, 2023 (archived here), Lee did not specifically mention an end-of-war declaration, but said (as translated):

Recently, there has been a lot of controversy over the armistice and the end of the war... it is important to develop the power to win, but there is something more important than this. We win without fighting, and what is more important than that is the state where there would be no need to fight... it's about creating peace.

Contrary to the video's claim of Lee pledging to withdraw the U.S. troops from South Korea, in a press release (archived here) from the Democratic Party posted on November 11, 2022, Lee emphasized the importance of a strong alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. He mentioned that there is no need for nuclear weapons in the Korean Peninsula as long as the extended deterrence of the ROK-U.S. alliance continues. Lee stated, as translated:

I believe that Korea and the United States will need to continue to cooperate closely for the peaceful denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula. Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the ROK-US alliance. Over the past 70 years, the ROK-US alliance has played a key role in the prosperity of the Republic of Korea and the peace regime in Northeast Asia. Based on the achievements made so far, we need to expand and advance the breadth and depth of our bilateral alliance.

No evidence was found on the official Democratic Party platform (archived here) explicitly pledging, on behalf of Lee, to transition to a lower-level federal system. South Korea historically has a strong central government, with legislative, executive, and judicial branches, in addition to specialized independent institutions, according to the Korean Cultural Center (archived here).

Concerning the video's claim of Lee's pledge to a "North Korean-style absorption reunification," Lee supports a peaceful process instead of drastic measures. Furthermore, Lee's stance on reunification has not changed since his run as a presidential candidate against Yoon in 2022 (archived here). In the official Democratic Party of Korea's policy pledge book for the 2024 general election (archived here and here), the pledges about North Korea are listed (as translated) as follows:

Stop creating military tensions and create an atmosphere of peace through the cessation of hostilities and the creation of trust.

Call for inter-Korean dialogue to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

Restoring the inter-Korean communication channel.

Building inter-Korean trust through humanitarian cooperation, such as joint health care and family reunions.

Providing humanitarian assistance to those vulnerable in North Korea.

Promoting reunions of separated families (such as visiting their hometowns)

Promoting North Koreans' human rights through humanitarian aid and development cooperation with the international community.

Lee also never explicitly stated the dissolution of conglomerates in South Korea. Still, he has strongly criticized (archived here) President Yoon's government for excessively deregulating the conglomerates and advocated for a framework that would hold them more accountable. Additionally, when Lee was running against Yoon for president, Lee had clarified (archived here) that he was referring to "dismantling the chaebol (conglomerate) system," which would include "internal transactions, unfair inheritance, and abuse of control."

There is no evidence to suggest that Lee had pledged to dismantle churches, as no results suggesting that were found on the official Democratic Party website (archived here), and Lee has attended church service (archived here) himself.

Lead Stories has already fact-checked the claim of Lee's alleged one-sided pro-China policy. The only mention of China in the 2024 Democratic Party Pledge (archived here) concerns fine dust particles (on page 123 of the pdf).

Fact Check: People Power Party Did NOT Sneak A Political Message Into An Elementary School Lunch Menu Ahead Of Election

2024-04-05T05:02:57Z

Did the South Korean ruling People Power Party sneak a political message into the school lunch menu at an elementary school before the general election on April 10, 2024? No, that's not true: The local education office said it was an unintentional mistake and promptly recalled it, removing the alleged political message. An official from the Gyeonggido Office of Education told Lead Stories it was just an incident, with no intention of sending a political message.

The claim originated from a video (archived here) published on TikTok on April 3, 2024, under the title "#국민의짐#부정선거" or "#PeoplesBurdenParty#riggedelection, as translated from Korean into English by Lead Stories staff. It opened, as translated:

People's Burden Party is extremely nervous and going crazy. They even sneaked on elementary school.

This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:

(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Apr 5 05:02:57 2024 UTC)

'People Burden Party' is a common derogatory expression used by some to indicate the People Power Party; it became popular among liberal supporters after current Democratic Party Leader Lee Jae-myung used it on a parliamentary audit (archived here) in October 2020 when he was governor of the Gyeonggi Province.

The TikTok video shows images of news reports from Yonhap, published on April 2, 2024, and Asia Economy, published on April 3, 2024 (archived here and here). The cited news reports covered what has been referred to as the "political message on school lunch menu" incident. In an elementary school in Hanam, Gyeonggido, an image was inserted in the monthly lunch menu calendar for April 10, 2024, election day in South Korea (archived here), to fill the space since there would be no lunch served on the day, as election day is a holiday in the country. According to media outlets, a nutritionist chose the image, which read "Vote is People's Power," to fill the blank box corresponding to April 10, 2024.

However, in Korean, the sentence can also be interpreted as "Vote for People Power Party," stirring speculation that this could have been a veiled, intentional electoral message. The "incident" quickly became a minor political case. Also, there had been a similar incident in an elementary school in Daejeon (archived here) on March 26, 2024, with a similar image with the same message on the school's lunch menu calendar. The Democratic Party (DP), the main opposition party, expressed concern about the incident in Daejeon. In a statement (archived here) from the Daejeon branch of the party, DP said, as translated from Korean by Lead Stories staff:

To defend the basic principle of democracy and fair election, we urge the National Election Commission and the Office of Education to clarify the facts through a strict investigation and prepare specific measures to prevent recurrence.

For both incidents, the Daejeon Office of Education and the Gyeonggido Office of Education told the press (archived here and here) there was no political intention behind the use of that image, as revealed by an investigation carried out.

During a telephone interview with Lead Stories on April 5, 2024, an official from the Gyeonggido Office of Education said:

The [latest] incident was caused by the negligence of the school dietitian. There was no political intention on behalf of that person, or the school, local education office, or Gyeonggido office of Education.

Lead Stories also tried to contact on April 12, 2024, the People Power Party in the main headquarters in Seoul, and the Gyeonggi branch by telephone, but could not reach any representative to have a comment.

A search conducted by Lead Stories on April 16, 2024, on the People Power Party's website, shown in the screenshot below, did not lead to any statement or official comment on the matter.

(Source: PPP website search result screenshot on April 16, 2024, 04:12:30 UTC)