Yoon Seok-youl accused of belittling women
By Jung Da-min
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, the current frontrunner among the main opposition People Power Party's presidential hopefuls, prepares for a TV debate at a local broadcaster's studio on Seoul's Yeouido, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, the frontrunner among presidential contenders of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), has again come under fire for a comment widely viewed as unfairly stereotyping women.
During a TV debate among presidential contenders of the PPP, Tuesday, Yoon's rival contenders attacked him regarding a controversy over having the Chinese character for “king” written on his palm during three previous debates. They have raised suspicions that he is relying on shamanistic rituals to stay ahead in the presidential bid, suggesting the character might have a ritualistic meaning.
When asked by former four-term lawmaker Yoo Seong-min if Yoon himself or his family members often meet with fortune-tellers or monks, Yoon said: “I rarely meet those people. I am not sure about my mother-in-law's relations, with them but it is not what people might think. I understand that some Korean women go to see fortune-tellers.”
Yoon's remarks immediately brought criticism for belittling women.
“Do you attack women to emphasize that you don't go to see fortune-tellers?” Kim Jin-ae, former lawmaker of the minor liberal Open Minjoo Party wrote on Facebook, Wednesday. “Unfavorable images are piling up. Most of his controversial comments involve degrading specific groups.”
It was Yoon's second controversial remark on women and gender issues. Earlier in August, he blamed the country's low birthrate on radical feminism.
Regarding the character on his palm, Yoon said his neighbors wrote it to show their support, saying, “If it was really a good-luck charm, would I show it openly?”