Mostan, also known as Dan Hyun-myung, a former U.S. ambassador for international criminal justice and a professor at Liberty University, has recently attracted controversy following a meeting he held on the 15th in front of Seoul National University. The gathering was aimed at defending former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law.
Professor Tan is currently under investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s cyber investigation team, following accusations from the civic group Liberty Korea Defense Corps. The group claimed that he disseminated false information about President Lee Jae-myung, alleging that he was involved in severe criminal activities as a teenager, which resulted in a juvenile detention sentence.
This accusation stems from a previous press conference held by the Korean National Defense Corps in Washington, where they asserted that President Lee was imprisoned for the rape and murder of a girl in his youth and, therefore, could not complete his middle and high school education.
Tan was expected to give a special lecture at the Hoam Professors’ Center at Seoul National University, but the venue was canceled. The meeting proceeded at the university’s main gate, where he reiterated his support for Yoon’s emergency measures.
In opposition, a group called “Urgent Action for University Students Against Visiting Korea” condemned Tan for his claims. They accused him of promoting misleading conspiracy theories about the integrity of the recent elections and warned that his actions undermine Korea’s democratic order and the U.S.-Korea alliance.
This situation reflects broader tensions surrounding political discourse in South Korea, especially regarding claims of foreign interference and domestic political integrity. The backlash faced by Tan illustrates the critical landscape of opinion and the impact of controversial allegations in shaping public perception.