'Hold on Hong Camp' Lee Young-don PD's Solo Protest... "Won Hee-ryong, Public Apology Requested"

Photo by Lee Young-don PD, captured from Facebook

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Recently, PD Lee Young-don, whose recruitment was put on hold by the campaign of People Power Party presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo, held a solo protest in front of former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong's campaign office, demanding a public apology.

Earlier, during the People Power Party presidential candidate TV debate held on the 16th, former Governor Won criticized Hong, saying, "If you knew and chose (PD Lee Young-don), it means you have no interest in self-employed people. How can you form a team with such judgment?"

In response, on the 23rd, PD Lee posted a photo on his social media showing his solo protest in front of former Governor Won's campaign office, stating, "I requested a public apology from candidate Won. I demanded an apology during today's debate for damaging my reputation based on false information in the previous TV debate."

Photo by Hong Jun-pyo, captured from Facebook of the lawmaker

PD Lee was recruited as the head of media management for Hong's campaign on the 14th but the appointment was canceled due to backlash from supporters. At the time, Hong said, "There may be controversy, but he is excellent at media response," when recruiting PD Lee, but three hours later said, "After careful consideration, although I recruited him, criticism poured in like a flood. For now, we have decided to put the recruitment on hold," adding, "Personnel decisions are truly difficult work."

PD Lee previously hosted investigative programs such as 'Consumer Report' and 'Food X-Files,' but faced criticism amid controversies over inadequate verification. Notably, in October 2007, while working as the executive producer of 'Consumer Report,' he reported that iron powder was detected in a loess pack produced by a company run by the late actress Kim Young-ae.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's investigation concluded that minerals such as siderite contained in the loess pack are natural components of loess and harmless to health. However, after the broadcast, sales plummeted, refund demands followed, and the company went bankrupt. Kim eventually divorced her husband, who co-managed the company, and passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2017.

Meanwhile, on the 23rd, the second debate, broadcast on the People Power Party's YouTube channel 'Oreun Sori,' will feature candidates who passed the first preliminary presidential election: Ahn Sang-soo, Won Hee-ryong, Yoo Seung-min, Yoon Seok-youl, Choi Jae-hyung, Ha Tae-kyung, Hong Joon-pyo, and Hwang Kyo-ahn.