Despite John Liu's Denial, John Choe Admits To Post He Attacked U.S. "Imperialism"

"Korean Conflict - Council Hopeful: Pull Troops"
by David Seifman
From The New York Post, July 26, 2009

A COUNCIL candidate hoping to become the city's first Korean-American legislator is calling for the removal of American troops from South Korea, and admits he made a speech three years ago denouncing US "imperialism."

The comments of John Choe, one of six candidates trying to succeed Councilman John Liu in Flushing, were reported in the Workers World newspaper.

"Korea is at the front line of the liberation struggles against imperialism," Choe was quoted as telling a conference here in May 2006 on "Preparing for the Rebirth of the Global Struggle for Socialism."

"From the very beginning, when the US intervened and occupied Korea, the Korean people have been resisting and struggling. And I urge all of you here to help us in our dark days trying to win back freedom and independence from the United States and its military."

Choe allies claim he's the victim of a smear campaign and say he never uttered those words.
But Choe admitted that he pretty much did.

"I may have said something like that," he said.

"Korea, I believe like any other country, should be given the right to self-determination and independence and not have the military of other countries on their soil," he told The Post.
Choe's position poses something of a problem for Liu and the Queens Democratic Party, which has endorsed him.

Liu, now running for comptroller, insisted Choe, his former chief of staff, was being stigmatized by "McCarthyism."

"There's no way he made those comments, no way," declared Liu, not aware of Choe's admission.