Family scandals overshadow presidential election
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung bows to apologize over his son's illegal gambling activities, at the party headquarters on Yeouido in Seoul, Thursday, hours after a local newspaper raised the accusation. Joint Press Corps
By Jung Da-min
The competition for Korea's next presidential election, slated for March 9, is being overshadowed by scandals surrounding the corruption or illegal acts of family members of the candidates of the country's two major parties. As so much attention is being paid to smear campaigns from both sides against each other, concerns are rising that discussions surrounding policy promises are being neglected.
In the latest round of mudslinging, the son of Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, has been accused of habitual illegal gambling.
The allegations were reported by the Chosun Ilbo, Thursday morning, which stated that a person believed to be Lee's 29-year-old son had been gambling illegally, based on some 200 posts uploaded on an online poker community from January 2019 to July 2020. The person also wrote about his visit to offline gambling sites around Seoul, calling himself a “habitual gambler.”
Hours after the report, Lee apologized over his son's misconduct, virtually admitting the allegations. He said that his son is deeply reflecting on his misbehavior and he also feels sorry to the people who felt disappointed by him, as he failed to lead his son in the right direction.
“I will also help my son to get gambling addiction treatment,” Lee said.
In a joint interview with online media outlets, he said that his son will even humbly accept criminal punishment if warranted.
On the main opposition People Power Party's (PPP) side, Kim Keon-hee, the wife of its presidential candidate, Yoon Suk-yeol, and also the CEO of cultural content agency Covana Contents, has been embroiled in scandals that she falsified her qualifications when applying for visiting professor positions at local universities.
Kim Keon-hee, the wife of main opposition People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, heads to her office after leaving her home in Seoul's Seocho District, Wednesday, a day after a local broadcaster raised allegations that she falsified information on her resume when applying for lecturer positions at local universities. Yonhap
The allegations against Yoon's wife were first raised by local broadcaster YTN, which reported Tuesday that Kim falsified career and award information on her resume when applying to be a visiting professor of Suwon Women's University in 2007. She worked for the university from March 2007 to February 2008.
When asked by YTN about the matter, Kim said that she could not remember the details and was verifying the related procedures. She said that the falsifications were due to her “greed to stand out,” and “If that's a sin, then it's a sin.”
Kim's lack of repentance immediately brought a backlash from the political circle and the public. Some lawmakers of the DPK raised another similar allegation that she also falsified her information on her resume when applying to Anyang University where she became an adjunct professor of liberal arts in 2013, working until 2015.
As the controversy has grown, Kim told Yonhap News, Wednesday, that she apologizes to the public who feel uncomfortable over such news, regardless of if the allegations are true or not. Yoon also said later on the same day that Kim's apology was appropriate, although she felt the ruling bloc's “planned schemes” of attacking her were unfair.
The main opposition People Power Party's presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, center, is questioned by reporters at the office of the New Era Preparatory Committee, the party's separate election campaigning unit, in Seoul, Thursday, regarding controversies surrounding his wife Kim Keon-hee's falsifying her resume when applying for lecturer positions at local universities. Joint Press Corps
The controversy surrounding Kim could harm Yoon's image, as he has made the keywords of “justice and fairness” his campaign slogan to fight against the ruling bloc.
While serving as the prosecutor general before resigning in March for his presidential bid, Yoon had often clashed with the Moon Jae-in government over the latter's push for prosecutorial reform drives. Among high-ranking officials who pushed for prosecutorial reform policies was former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who stepped down over scandals that he used his influence to help his daughter enter a prestigious university. The scandals surrounding Cho became a trigger for many young voters, who are sensitive to the issue of fairness, to turn their backs on the liberal ruling bloc.