With two days to go before South Korea’s local elections, controversies started heating up Monday, surrounding political scandals.
Former spokesman for the major conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party Chung Tae-ok. Yonhap
Candidates from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Gyeonggi Province residents said Monday that they are set to sue Chung Tae-ok, a former spokesman for the major conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party, for defaming the province’s regions.
On Thursday, Chung said during a televised interview that “If you get divorced, you end up moving to Bucheon, while those without decent jobs go to Incheon.” The two areas mentioned are large cities located in Gyeonggi Province.
The remarks came as Chung was trying to highlight low employment, high household debt and welfare expenses of the regions.
Chung resigned from his post the next day as his remarks continued to flame public outcry.
Separately, Lee Jae-myung of the ruling party came under fire following his rival’s revelation that the leading candidate for the Gyeonggi gubernatorial election allegedly committed adultery with actress Kim Bu-seon some years ago while pretending to not be married.
While Lee denies the allegation, the Liberty Korea Party continues to lash out at him as the actress accuses him of lying.
Hong Joon-pyo, the chief of the Liberty Korea Party, said on his Facebook post that “If Lee tries to cover up the scandal with lies, more disaster will come,” urging him to step down from the race.
Lee is currently the front runner of the race, followed by Nam Kyung-pil of the Liberty Korea Party, the current governor, according to the most recent polling available.
By Bak Se-hwan (sh@heraldcorp.com)