Resignation of ruling candidate's new aide sparks debate over politicians' private lives

Prof. Cho Dong-youn of Seokyeong University Department of Military Studies answers reporters' questions regarding her appointment as the standing co-chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Korea's election committee, during a press conference at the party's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, Nov. 30. Cho resigned from the post Friday after suffering attacks on her private life. Joint Press Corps

By Nam Hyun-woo

The election camp of ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has accepted the resignation of Prof. Cho Dong-youn of Seokyeong University's Department of Military Studies, just three days after she was appointed as the standing co-chairwoman of the ruling party's election committee, after she suffered political attacks over her private life, including having a child out of marriage.

As she left the post following controversy being raised about her private life, even before carrying out any official duties on the election committee, debates have been ignited over whether it is appropriate to make public the private concerns of a political adviser and to mount an attack on that person based on those.

The DPK said in a statement Friday that the party and Lee decided to accept Cho's resignation.

"With regret, the party and candidate Lee have decided to respect Cho's intention to resign," DPK election committee spokesman Koh Yong-jin said in the statement. "DPK Chairman Song Young-gil has tried to dissuade Cho from resigning, but she made up her mind in order to protect her children from inhumane attacks."

The resignation came just three days after Lee announced Cho as his first choice for a ranking member of the election committee from outside the party, Nov. 30, describing her as an aerospace and military specialist. Cho served in the military for 17 years and earned a master's degree in public administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. She was also a fellow in the Yale World Fellows program at Yale University.

As soon as her appointment was announced, however, a YouTube channel and a conservative broadcaster raised allegations that one of Cho's two children was born out of the marriage with her ex-husband.

Following the allegations, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) slammed Cho's alleged "extramarital affair."

PPP spokeswoman Her Eun-a said that Cho had a "morality issue," adding that she was unlikely to have the ability to shoulder the hefty responsibility of serving the public. "As the ruling party candidate and his election committee co-chief are both mired in controversies over their private lives, the public will only sigh deeper," Her wrote on Facebook.

Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Song Young-gil leaves after commenting about a controversy raised about the party's election committee standing co-chairwoman, Cho Dong-youn, at the National Assembly, Friday. Song accepted Cho's resignation later in the day. Yonhap

Following the controversy, Cho appeared in a radio interview with broadcaster KBS, Thursday, and apologized to the public, "who felt uncomfortable about my private matters."

"I have spent 10 years in silence after the divorce, and now I have a happy family with my two kids," she said. "I want to ask, 'Are people like me not allowed to have the chance to show their children that their mom is proudly working, even after spending 10 years in silence? Do people like me not deserve to have the chance to make efforts to achieve our dreams?'"

Following Cho's explanation, questions have been raised over whether the private lives of politicians or those in politics should be handled publicly, if they are unrelated to their professional abilities.

"I want to ask why a person having an extramarital child should not be engaged in politics," Kang Min-jin, head of a youth chapter of the minor opposition progressive Justice Party, wrote on Facebook, Friday.

"The French public did not care about whether former French President Francois Mitterrand had extramarital children. Why can't we be like that?" Kang wrote. "This was a matter between individuals and someone may want apologies from Cho, but there is no single reason that Cho owes an apology to the public. Even though she began her political career, I don't understand why everyone should know about her married life."

DPK Chairman Song also said, "Cho is not running for election and is not a candidate to be a ranking governmental official. I want the public to make the decision whether her divorce 10 years ago should be the subject of attacks against her private life."

The DPK filed a complaint with the prosecution Friday against the Youtube channel, led by conservative lawyer Kang Yong-suk, alleging libel.

A lawyer representing the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) speaks to reporters at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho District, Seoul, Friday, before filing a complaint with the prosecution against a YouTube channel, which alleged that the DPK election committee's standing co-chairwoman Cho Dong-youn had an extramarital affair. Yonhap

Cho's case also triggered debates over sexism, following PPP election committee standing co-chairman Kim Byung-joon's remark, when she was appointed, that Cho is "a very beautiful brooch on a combat uniform," claiming that she, "may look good for now, but has no experience in running a big organization."

The comparison drew criticism for being sexist. While the DPK was denouncing the comment, PPP election committee standing co-chairwoman Lee Soo-jung also criticized it as an "inappropriate remark."

The DPK was also mired in a sexist controversy over Cho, as Konkuk University Professor Choi Bae-geun, who is now in DPK candidate Lee's camp, uploaded a post comparing photos of Cho and PPP election committee co-chairwoman Lee, which appeared to be comparing the two professors' appearances. Choi had written, "What's the difference?"

"I don't understand why people are speaking ill of women's social activities with their appearances or femininity," PPP election committee co-chairwoman Lee said in a radio interview with KBS.