Columnist Lee Sang-ro
Former MBC Camera Expedition Reporter On August 10th, Shin Hye-sik of "Sinui Hansu" (God's Hand) filed a public interest report with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, designating a presidential administrative officer, the President's legal team, and members of the People Power Party as masterminds and ringleaders of the incident at the Western District Court, requesting immunity as a whistleblower. In relation to this, I will present the claims of those involved and offer my opinion at the end.   

First, I will quote the important parts of the assertion by Attorney Bae Eui-cheol of the President's legal team.       

1. Shin Hye-sik, who runs the YouTube channel 'Sinui Hansu,' has accused me of being the mastermind and ringleader of the Western District Court intrusion incident and has reported me to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission for spreading propaganda and incitement, requesting immunity from special investigation as a 'whistleblower.'

2. Shin Hye-sik claims that the mastermind behind the Western District Court intrusion incident is not Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon but the 'Presidential Office, President Yoon Suk-yeol's legal team, and the People Power Party,' and has jointly reported Presidential Office Administrative Officer Sung Sam-young, attorney Seok Dong-hyun, attorney Bae Eui-cheol, and People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun for spreading propaganda and incitement for rebellion.

3. The media reports that Shin Hye-sik has been acting under the direction of Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon. Please reveal whether Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon is the mastermind behind the accusation of the Presidential Office, the President's legal team, and the People Power Party to the special prosecutor for spreading propaganda and incitement for rebellion. If it is not Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, I demand an explanation as to who is behind it.

4. Shin Hye-sik and others will be recorded in history as 'lackeys (dogs) of the special prosecutor,' who betrayed the President for immense Super Chat and donations, like Judas who betrayed Jesus, and handed over the Presidential Office and the legal team as sacrificial lambs of political oppression. Bending the knee before them and donning the abhorrent filth of 'protection as a public interest whistleblower' is a disgrace to the entire free camp.

Next is part of Shin Hye-sik's rebuttal to the claims made by Attorney Bae Eui-cheol.  

First, it is true that I filed a 'public interest report' with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission regarding the Western District Court intrusion incident. This was not for the purpose of politically attacking any specific individual, but to rectify clearly confirmed circumstances of illegal propaganda and incitement, and the ensuing damage to the rule of law. My report is a legitimate procedure based on the law, and I acted according to my conscience and the law.

Second, Attorney Bae Eui-cheol claims as if I 'sold out my colleagues to survive,' but I have never acted under the instructions of any mastermind. Rather, I made my report through legal procedures based on the evidence, recordings, and statements I witnessed and secured. The talk of a 'mastermind' is merely a baseless conspiracy theory and an insult to my judgment.

Third, Attorney Bae claims he was at the scene to protect the human rights of young people. However, the statements and messages exchanged at the scene, as well as the content spread through SNS and YouTube, were incitement that clearly posed a risk of undermining the rule of law, beyond mere 'encouragement.' As a lawyer, you should have acted based on laws and procedures even more so.

Fourth, I strongly deny the claim that I acted on Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon's orders. My activities were based on the independent judgment of my channel, 'Sinui Hansu,' and I have never been controlled by any external forces. Pretending not to know this and spreading rumors of a mastermind is an attempt to frame me politically.

My channel exists for the public's right to know. It is not my path to stand with a specific political force and cover up wrongdoing, or to overlook illegal acts because someone is a colleague. Those who attack me should remember this: the truth will always be revealed in court and before history.

Finally, I will state my opinion after reviewing the claims from both sides. I was quite surprised by the news of Shin Hye-sik's public interest report. I understand Shin Hye-sik's announcement as follows. 

First, President Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law is certain to be an act of rebellion.

Second, therefore, President Yoon Suk-yeol deserves to be punished for rebellion.

Third, nevertheless, President Yoon Suk-yeol mobilized presidential administrative officers, the legal team, and members of the People Power Party to incite young people in order to prevent his arrest.

Fourth, therefore, regardless of whether it is Yoon Suk-yeol or so-called right-wing figures within our side, they deserve to be punished according to the law. I, Shin Hye-sik, am not broadcasting for Yoon Suk-yeol and right-wing figures, but I am an agent of justice seeking to correct the order of the nation's laws. Therefore, I do not need to be punished. Punish others and spare me.      

Of course, it is possible that I have misunderstood Shin Hye-sik's rebuttal. That is, it is possible that I have misunderstood Shin Hye-sik's intentions. Even if my understanding stems from a misunderstanding, Shin Hye-sik should have fully foreseen such a misunderstanding before filing the public interest report.     

What is truly regrettable here is that if he had no fault of his own, he could have confidently gone to the investigative authorities and argued his innocence. Instead, he said, 'I am not at fault, and the real culprit is that person. Do not punish me and arrest those people.' I am not suggesting that Shin Hye-sik should take responsibility for the wrongdoings of others. However, Shin Hye-sik's act of saying, 'Arrest those other people,' not only absolves Lee Jae-myung's incitement charges but also justifies the harsh punishment of the young people who entered the Western District Court. That is why many people, including myself, feel disappointed and even angry at Shin Hye-sik's actions.