The presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon

By Nam Hyun-woo

The presidential office said Tuesday that it sued a former lawmaker from the minor opposition Justice Party on charges of spreading false claims that a fortune teller was involved in the relocation of the presidential residence.

The presidential office filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against former Rep. Kim Jong-dae for his claims that the fortune teller, who calls himself Cheongong, accompanied Presidential Security Service (PSS) Chief Kim Yong-hyeon to explore the location of the presidential residence.

"We could not let fake news undermine democracy through groundless allegations of shamanism," a senior presidential official said. "The PSS chief has never met Cheongong, thus there is no reason for Kim to accompany Cheongong to visit the residence of the army chief of staff."

During an interview with broadcaster TBS on Monday, the former lawmaker claimed that he heard from a military official that the PSS chief and Cheongong visited the residence of the army chief of staff in March, when Yoon was president-elect and had yet to move to the current presidential office and residence in Yongsan District, Seoul.

In a YouTube video on Speaks TV, also on Monday, the former lawmaker claimed that the location of the new presidential residence was changed from the army chief of staff's residence to the foreign minister's mansion after the head of presidential security and the fortune teller looked around the former site.

Cheongong's YouTube clip / Captured from Cheongong's YouTube channel

Cheongong, who describes himself as a fortune teller, has claimed that he has been providing advice to President Yoon Suk-yeol, and the opposition has suspected the president of maintaining close ties with him.

Along with the former lawmaker, the presidential office said it also sued TBS radio show host and left-wing commentator Kim Ou-Joon on charges of colluding in defamation, according to the presidential office.

The former lawmaker said he has "no intention to retract comments or apologize" and will consider engaging in legal action himself.

"As we refrain from taking legal action, fake news continues to circulate and disguise itself as if it is based on fact," the senior presidential official said. "Anyone can raise a suspicion, as long as it is based on fair and reasonable evidence. However, if it is groundless fake news aimed at defaming someone, there should be a precondition that the person who has raised the suspicion takes responsibility."

This is the second time that the Yoon administration filed a complaint against someone citing fake news. Last month, the office sued main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Jang Kyung-tae on charges of spreading false claims that first lady Kim Keon-hee staged her photos taken with a sick Cambodian child during a trip to the Southeast Asian country.