Family members put Chung Mong-joon to test

By Yi Whan-woo

Rep. Chung Mong-joon

Family members of the Saenuri Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate Chung Mong-joon are embroiled in yet another controversy over their politically insensitive remarks ahead of the local elections on June 4.

Kim Young-myung, the wife of the seven-term lawmaker of the ruling party, reignited controversy for defending her youngest son, Ye-sun, 19, over his gaffe about the bereaved families of the Sewol ferry disaster.

The son has been criticized since April 21 for referring to the families of the missing passengers of the sunken ferry as “uncivilized” for yelling at President Park Geun-hye and Prime Minister Chung Hong-won.

In a video clip spread on the Internet, Sunday, Kim, 58, was seen justifying her son’s Faceboook comment.

“I think my son made the wrong choice of words at the wrong time as an immature person, although a number of people have encouraged him for making a sound argument,” she said.

Critics claim the incident reveals that the Saenuri Party lawmaker and his family members have a disparaging mindset about people in general, especially the underprivileged. They also say the incident could deal a political blow to Chung Mong-joon.

“The parents are responsible for their child and I’m sure Chung Ye-sun learned exactly the same from his parents in terms of his attitude toward the general public,” wrote a Daum netizen using the ID, Son of wind.

“I believe Chung Mong-joon better step down as a candidate in this election and be with his family forever,” wrote another Daum netizien by the ID, bekju.

The Saenuri Party lawmaker apologized for his wife’s comment, Monday, following the issuance of a previous apology for his son’s gaffe.

“I and my wife spent days and nights repenting over my son’s mistake, which was inexcusable,” he wrote on his Facebook thread. “And those who know my wife well, she’s not the person who would speak and behave differently. I offer my sincere apology over her remark.”