Debate Erupts Over Photo Posted on Internet Community
O Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, was wearing the shoes he had on at an event in 2006. / Photo by Internet Community Capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] A dispute over the truth erupted in the political sphere regarding the shoes worn by Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor. This followed claims by the owner of a restaurant in Naegok-dong, Seoul, that Oh was wearing 'Ferragamo' shoes in 2005. When Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate, said, "Netizens found the photo," Oh countered by saying, "They are not Ferragamo brand."
On the 6th, a day before the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, Park appeared on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' and said, "Netizens mobilized to find photos of the Ferragamo loafers that Oh supposedly wore," adding, "Finally, someone found and posted a photo."
She continued, "Looking at the photo from the opening ceremony of the Dongdaemun Seoul Fashion Center on September 21, 2006, Oh is wearing those Ferragamo shoes," adding, "Netizens wouldn't go this far without reason."
The 'Ferragamo photo' mentioned by Park has been spreading through online communities and social networking services (SNS) since the previous day (the 5th).
At that time, a netizen said, "I found a photo of Oh attending the opening ceremony of the Dongdaemun Seoul Fashion Center on September 21, 2006," explaining, "Since the land survey in Naegok-dong was conducted in 2005, the timing seems close," and posted a photo.
In the photo, Oh is wearing black shoes. However, due to the low resolution of the photo, it is difficult to discern details such as shoe decorations.
On the afternoon of the 6th, one day before the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, appealed for support during a campaign held at Bulgwangcheon in Eunpyeong-gu. / Photo by Yonhap News
In response, Oh's camp rebutted, stating that the shoes in the photo are "a domestic brand, not Ferragamo."
On the 6th, during an election campaign, when asked by reporters about the issue, Oh said, "I don't know if this is something I should directly clarify," but added, "Just a quick glance at the photo shows that the brand Park claims is not correct."
According to multiple media reports, Oh's campaign explained that the shoes he wore are believed to be from the domestic brand Tandy, not Ferragamo.
Meanwhile, A, the son of Hwang, the owner who claimed that Oh visited the ecological soup restaurant in Naegok-dong in 2005, appeared on TBS Traffic Broadcasting's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' on the 5th and insisted that the shoes Oh wore at the time were Ferragamo.
A said, "I was quite upset seeing the People Power Party say things like 'It's Saengte-tang (ecological soup). They are making excuses. The mother changed her story.'"
A had also claimed on the 'News Factory' on the 2nd that "Oh came to the ecological soup restaurant wearing Ferragamo shoes and white cotton pants."
Regarding Oh's attire at the time, he said, "He was wearing those very eye-catching white cotton pants," adding, "I was also wearing Ferragamo loafers then, but his horseshoe mark was slightly bigger than mine."
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