Yoon Seok-yeol, a preliminary candidate for the People Power Party's presidential primary, is waving his hand to greet returning holiday travelers at the Seoul Station platform on the morning of the 19th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign team issued a statement regarding allegations of preferential treatment in support funds for Moon Joon-yong, son of President Moon Jae-in, but retracted it after one day.
On the 22nd, Yoon's campaign announced through a press notice, "The statement by Deputy Spokesperson Kim In-gyu concerning Moon Joon-yong has been retracted due to differences with the official position of the campaign."
The campaign explained, "Although there is critical public opinion regarding the support funds received by the president's son, the campaign judged that the statement should not exacerbate unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings about support for cultural artists."
Earlier, on the 21st, Deputy Spokesperson Kim mentioned that Moon exhibited works in an art museum project supported by Yanggu County Office in Gangwon Province last year and received approximately 70 million won from local government budgets, raising suspicions of "preferential support funded by taxpayers' money."
Kim said, "The total amount Moon received from public budgets over the past two and a half years is 201.84 million won," adding, "The public will be curious whether the fact that he is the 'president's son' played a role in the support process from local governments and institutions."
He also stated, "While he should not be discriminated against because he is the president's son, he should not receive preferential treatment either," and questioned, "Isn't it suspicious that such support for Moon has occurred multiple times, not just once?"
In response, Moon immediately rebutted. On the same day, Moon posted on Facebook, "Originally, all artworks are purchased with tax money," and added, "Institutions broadly call this 'support,' but politicians got excited upon hearing this word."
He further argued, "It is misleading as if I am receiving COVID-19 livelihood support."
Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon also strongly criticized Deputy Spokesperson Kim's statement. Jin said, "The Yoon Seok-yeol campaign must be bored to cling to such things."
He continued, "Their understanding of culture and arts is shallow and vulgar, so the campaign needs reorganization."
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