The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty are replete with the terms "treason" and "accusation." It is said that treason, an act of plotting rebellion, and false accusations, or tattling, combined exceed a staggering 1,000 instances. Joseon's 500-year reign began with treason and impeachment, and ended with treason and impeachment. Among these, there are numerous accusations that were either absurd or hilariously outlandish. 

In November of the 28th year of King Seonjo's reign (1595), the Office of the Inspector General reported to the king, "The father and son duo, Gwak Hee-jeong, have reported treason. It seems we must interrogate the accused." However, the content of the accusation was rather comical. It stated that Kang Hyo-nam had uttered slander, saying, "Our country has no generals. Only someone who can conjure fog and command wooden horses is a true general." It further added a statement from the accused: "Lee Seong-nam's real name was Eon-nam. He changed it to Seong-nam during the Jeong Yeo-rip rebellion. He can conjure fog, transform himself, and become a deer or a stag, so where can one find his presence or absence?"

Seriously! At this point, the Office of the Inspector General should have rightfully dismissed the case. In today's terms, it would be akin to a dismissal of charges or an acquittal. Yet, the investigation dragged on for a full month. It occupied most of the November entries in the Annals. And the conclusion? The Annals record on December 1st as "no grounds for further action (no clue found)." 

Having heard of an absurd treason and accusation case, let us now examine a Joseon-era impeachment petition so reminiscent of copy-pasting that one might suspect the Constitutional Court of Korea of doing the same during the 'impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol' verdict. 

On the very day Admiral Yi Sun-sin died at the Battle of Noryang, court officials launched a swarm of impeachment petitions against Prime Minister Ryu Seong-ryong, who had played a pivotal role in discovering Yi Sun-sin.

"Seong-ryong, with his cunning and sycophantic nature, skillfully navigated his way through life, harming others without them knowing and deceiving the world without it realizing. This has been his lifelong disposition... His transgressions that ruined the nation and sickened the people are not one, but too many... How can his crimes be punished to atone to the people? Order his stripping of rank and titles." (Translated Annals of Seonjo, November 1, Year 31 of Seonjo's reign)

Seonjo deemed the stripping of rank too severe and ended the matter with dismissal from office. The king thus struck a loyal subject, who had devoted his life to overcoming the nation's crisis during seven years of war, with the decree of dismissal. The main proponents of the impeachment petition at the time were the Office of the Censor General, the Office of the Inspector General, and the Hongmungwan. Does this sound familiar? It is a mirror image of the actions taken by the current National Assembly, investigative agencies, the Constitutional Court, and the media against former President Yoon Suk-yeol, resulting in his impeachment and dismissal. The charges, a mix of treason and soliciting foreign invasion, are also strikingly similar. Times change, but human nature does not. 

'This is a newly received accusation. It is alleged that Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae met with powerful figures from the ruling elite late at night at an outdoor table outside a GS25 convenience store in the back alleys of Seocho-dong, sharing soju and shrimp crackers, and plotting a palace coup.' 

This accusation first surfaced publicly in May. YouTuber Jeong Cheon-soo revealed an audio recording on Open Gonggam TV, claiming it was a tip from an "investigative informant." The voice in the recording stated, "I heard that on April 4th, after the Constitutional Court's ruling on Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, Jo Hee-dae, Jeong Sang-myeong (former Prosecutor General), Kim Chung-sik (an associate of First Lady Kim Keon-hee's mother), and Han Duck-soo (former Prime Minister) met for lunch. At that gathering, Jo Hee-dae said, 'If Lee Jae-myung's case reaches the Supreme Court, I will handle it accordingly.'" This, it is claimed, is the background behind the Supreme Court's decision to send back for retrial Lee Jae-myung's election law violation case, with a guilty verdict.

Four days later, Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-kyo played this recording in the National Assembly. Following that, lawmaker Bu Seung-chan, during a parliamentary interpellation session on the 16th, stated he had "received a tip" and urged an investigation into Chief Justice Jo. However, on the 18th, the YouTube channel 'Open Gonggam TV' confessed, "The tip in the recording is hearsay, and its veracity has not been confirmed." The Democratic Party, which had been advocating for Chief Justice Jo's resignation and impeachment based on this YouTube claim, distanced itself by stating, "It is merely the personal opinion of a lawmaker, not accurate information." Nevertheless, they did not shy away from insisting that the investigation must continue. This is a ploy to relentlessly harass him through the process of a "Special Prosecutor," the ultimate investigative authority.

The People Power Party and the Reform Party criticized the Democratic Party, calling the alleged secret meeting of Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae "fake news propaganda," asserting that the audio recording used as evidence was produced by AI. 

In this land, fake accusations know no end. Their childishness remains unchanged. It is on the same level as "He can conjure fog, transform himself, and become a deer or a stag, so where can one find his presence or absence?" Of course, Seo Young-kyo and Bu Seung-chan, despite having no real evidence, boasted that they could reveal Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae's hidden identity with the "Wuji Swordplay" from a martial arts novel, a skill that can win without being wielded. 

Is it not a sight too unbearable to behold? As if unable to stand it any longer, the foremost elder of our time has personally stepped forward. He denounced fake news as an "enemy of democracy" and declared, "Acts that prey on and rely on fake news to disrupt the nation's order must be thoroughly eradicated with the party's full capabilities." The elder's anger gauge was different from usual, and his choice of words was exceptionally strong. 

"They brazenly spread fake news, profit from it, and then, when questioned about fake news, act as if there's a problem with the questioning... Corrupt and wicked individuals who spread all sorts of fake news and obscure the truth stand before the world as if they were virtuous sages... Fake news must be rooted out by any means necessary."

Of course, there is a slight temporal difference in the statements. These words were spoken by Lee Jae-myung, the current President (then party leader), at a Supreme Council meeting of the Democratic Party held at the National Assembly on January 13th. Seo Young-kyo and Bu Seung-chan are in trouble.

Lee Shin-woo, Former Editorial Writer for the Munhwa Ilbo and Author of 'Election Fraud and Traitors'