Huh Kyung-young
 |
Huh Kyung-young | |
|---|---|
허경영 | |
 Huh Kyung-young during one of his lectures in 2021 | |
| Founder of the National Revolutionary Dividends Party | |
| Assumed office 21 October 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1950 Jong-ro, Seoul, South Korea |
| Political party | National Revolutionary Dividends Party |
| Signature |  |
Huh Kyung-young (Korean: 허경영; born July 13, 1947) is a South Korean politician, founder of the National Revolutionary Dividends Party (국가혁명배당금당; 國家革命配當金黨), cult leader, and singer.[1][2]
Early life
[edit]On his official profile, Huh says he was born on January, 1st 1950 near Jungnanggyo, Seoul.[3] His father, Huh Nam-Kwon, made his own fortunes, but was executed in 1950 for charges of being a Communist. He lost both of his parents at the age of four.[4]
Political career
[edit]Huh has participated in the 1987 South Korean presidential election as a member of the New People's Party (Not to be confused with the New Democratic Party), and in the 1992 South Korean presidential elections as a presidential candidate for the Truth Peace Party.,[5] and in the 1997 South Korean presidential elections as a candidate for the self-made Republican Party, promising the revival of the Joseon dynasty and the merger of Gyeonggi province with Seoul.[6]
After his run in the 2007 South Korean presidential election, Huh was banned from politics for 10 years for making false claims about election opponents, mainly Park Geun-hye, saying that he was conditionally engaged to the then-leader of the biggest conservative party and threatened to marry her after the results of the conservative party's primary. Other misinformation Huh spread during the campaign included claims that he attended George W. Bush's inauguration banquet on behalf of South Korea and he is an adopted son of late Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chul.[7]
Huh founded his own party, the National Revolutionary Dividends Party, in August 2019. He was a candidate for the 2022 South Korean presidential election, but lost far to People Power Party's presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol.
Huh was once again found guilty of violating South Korean election law on 9 June 2024. Huh was found guilty by the Supreme Court and will not be able to run in elections until 2034. He was also indicted on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, with two years in prison and three years of probation. Huh claimed on a nationally televised debate during the 2022 Presidential Election that he was the adopted son of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Byung-chul and was an unelected policy aide to former President Park Chung Hee.[8]
Public image
[edit]A perennial candidate, Huh is known for his antics and unrealistic campaign promises and is considered somewhat of a joke politician.[9][10] Huh has claimed that he possessed the ability to levitate, has an IQ of 430, and is capable of performing chukjibeop.[10]
Discography
[edit]On August 15, 2009, the Liberation Day of Korea, he released his first digital single "Call Me", which borrows its hook from the Inspector Gadget theme song. In the song, Huh repeats the phrase "look into my eyes and you will become healthier. Look into my eyes and you will be [more attractive]."[11]
Bibliography
[edit]Religion related business activities
[edit]Huh Kyung-young conducts religious activities in a complex called "Sky Palace," located in Jangheung-myeon, Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. Expanded in November 2017, Huh claims that Sky Palace is a beautiful spot destined to become a world-famous landmark. Notably, Huh's residence is also located within this complex.[13]
Originally, Sky Palace began as a fan club for Huh Kyung-young. However, after Huh was arrested in 2007 for violations of the Public Official Election Act (specifically, the crime of publishing false information) and defamation by specifying false facts, he was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and was released in 2009. Following his release, Huh started to make deification claims about himself during lectures, which led to a gathering of followers and effectively transformed the fan club into a religious organization.[14]
Sky Palace is registered as a corporation named "Chojongkyo Sky Palace Co., Ltd." As of 2021, the company reported sales of 8.3 billion KRW with an astonishing operating profit margin of 96.5%. This means that nearly all its revenue translates directly into pure profit. To put this into perspective, most major companies, including Samsung Electronics, barely exceed an operating profit margin of 10%.[15]
According to the public disclosure of assets for the 22nd National Assembly elections in 2024, Huh Kyung-young's wealth increased to 48.1 billion KRW, a rise of 40 billion KRW since 2021. This suggests that Sky Palace's revenue has likely continued to grow since 2021.[16]
Sky Palace also sells various merchandise featuring images of the complex through Huh Kyung-young's official online store. Despite the high prices, the design quality of these goods is relatively low, reflecting the organization's high operating profit margin of 96.5%.[17]
On September 5, 2024, the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency dispatched 23 investigators to conduct a search and seizure of Sky Palace and its spiritual center, in connection with allegations against Huh Kyung-young and his associates, including charges of fraud under the Act on Aggravated Punishment for Specific Economic Crimes, violations of the Political Funds Act, and violations of the Food Sanitation Act. Some Sky Palace followers filed a lawsuit against Huh Kyung-young, claiming they were sold spiritual products at exorbitant prices compared to the cost, with the alleged total damages amounting to tens of billions of won. This was the second search and seizure of Sky Palace. In April 2024, the police previously searched Sky Palace in connection with allegations of Huh Kyung-young's sexual harassment of followers. Huh Kyung-young underwent police questioning three times until July 2024.[18]
Electoral history
[edit]General elections
[edit]| Year | Election | Constituency | Political party | Votes (%) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | En-Pyeong Council | Eun-Pyeong 1 | Independent | 1.565 (21.1%) | Defeated |
| 1991 | Seoul City Council | Eun-Pyeong 1 | Minjung | 2,451 (8.5%) | Defeated |
| 1997 | Presidential | Country-wide | Democratic-Republican | 39,055 (0.15%) | Defeated |
| 2004 | Parliamentary | Proportional Representative | Democratic-Republican | 24,360 (0.11%) | Not Elected |
| 2007 | Presidential | Country-wide | Democratic-Republican | 96,756 (0.4%) | Defeated [a] |
| 2020 | Parliamentary | Proportional Representative | NRDP | 200,657 (0.71%) | Not Elected |
| 2021 | Mayoral | Seoul | NRDP | 52,107 (1.07%) | Defeated |
| 2022 | Presidential | Country-wide | NRDP | 281,481 (0.83) | Defeated |
See also
[edit]- 1997 South Korean presidential election
- 2007 South Korean presidential election
- 2022 South Korean presidential election
Notes
[edit]- ^ Subsequently banned from politics for 10 years after making false statements about opposing candidates and spreading false information.
References
[edit]- ^ 'Call Huh Kyung-young, You Would Pass Test' Korea Times, August 13, 2009
- ^ Huh Kyung-young Will Sue SBS TV for Defamation Korea Times, October 20, 2009
- ^ Kim, Mi Young (22 December 2007). 허경영 "수십억원 지지자가 모아줘…난 5년뒤 다시 출마" [Huh Kyung-young: "Supporters Gathered Tens of Billions… I'll Run Again in Five Years"]. The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ 허경영의 프로필. hkypresident.org.
- ^ 허경영. bugsmusic.
- ^ [영상] 허경영, 15년전 대선공약 "조선왕조 부활시키겠다". The Dong-A Ilbo. 2012-04-18.
- ^ "(Yonhap Feature) Self-proclaimed prophet and maverick, ridiculed by others, makes 3rd presidential bid". 29 October 2021.
- ^ https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20240607122200004?input=tw [bare URL]
- ^ 허경영 씨 농담도 잘하시네요. womandonga. 2017-04-18.
- ^ a b [핫이슈] '파격인가 코미디인가' 허경영 대선출마에 쏠린 눈. ilyoseoul. 2021-08-20.
- ^ "Huh Kyung-Young released his first digital single".
- ^ 이재명은 '불평등 해소', 이낙연은 '인격'이 핵심 키워드, 윤석열은 '국가의 실패', 홍준표는 '이념 갈등 극복' 내세워. The Chosun Ilbo. 2021-09-25.
- ^ "신천지 이만희와 다르다"... 허경영, 종교법인 허가 신청. The Chosun Ilbo. 2021-02-22.
- ^ "진짜로 공중부양하면 인정"…'가짜사나이' 2기 지원한 허경영에 네티즌들이 보인 반응. topstarnews. 26 August 2020.
- ^ "허경영 하늘궁 '불로유' 마신 80대 남성 사망" [80-Year-Old Man Dies After Drinking Huh Kyung-young's "Bulloyu" at Sky Palace]. mimi-story.com. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Lim, Sung Bin (25 March 2024). 허경영, 3년새 재산 400억 늘었다…비례후보 중 자산 최다 [Huh Kyung-young's Wealth Increases by 40 Billion KRW in Three Years, Highest Among Proportional Representation Candidates]. The JoongAng. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ "[PD수첩/LIVE] 허경영 왕국-하늘궁의 영업 비밀" [[PD Notebook/LIVE] Huh Kyung-young's Kingdom - The Business Secrets of Sky Palace]. MBC News. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
- ^ Park, In Jae (5 September 2024). 경기북부경찰청, 허경영 '하늘궁' 전격 압수수색 [Police Raid Huh Kyung-young's Sect Headquarters]. Amen News. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
