Yoon "After Apologizing for Jeon Du-hwan Remarks, My Mistake Was 'Apologizing to a Dog on SNS'... Apologize to the People" (Update)

Camp Staff Approved to Create Story with Apple Tale
"I Am Responsible for All Planning... It's My Fault for Not Managing Properly"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General, apologized on the 22nd for his remarks defending former President Jeon Du-hwan and said, regarding the photos he posted on social media (SNS) showing him giving apples to a dog, "It was not done intentionally," adding, "I apologize to the public."

On the same day, during a TV debate with former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, Yoon said, "Before going to Busan, I told the SNS team about the apology-related story, and I told them to try making an Instagram story about it," adding, "It was my fault for not realizing that the public would interpret giving apples and a dog like family as 'Give the apology to the dog'."

Yoon said, "The place where the SNS photos were taken seems to be an office nearby, not my home," and "I understand that the person who gave the apples was one of our staff (referring to campaign personnel)." He continued, "I think it was my wife who brought the pet dog, and I heard that the photos were taken by a staff member, and the posts were also made by the campaign."

However, he added, "If you look at it as a planned event, it could be seen as something I planned," and said, "It is all my fault for not managing everything, and I apologize to the public for this."

This controversy initially began when Yoon visited the office of Ha Tae-kyung, a People Power Party lawmaker for Busan Haeundae-gap, on the 19th and made remarks that seemed to defend former President Jeon. Yoon said, "Except for the military coup and the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, there were mistakes, but many say he was good at politics." He explained that his comments referred to the fact that former President Jeon entrusted full authority over the economy to the late Kim Jae-ik, former Chief Secretary for Economic Affairs, which was something to learn from, but criticism followed that he was defending a former president who massacred innocent citizens.

Regarding this issue, Yoon argued that some expressions were problematic but that the overall remarks were not when taken in context. Despite demands for an apology from former lawmaker Yoo and others during the People Power Party presidential candidate broadcast debates, Yoon firmly refused, saying, "You should not distort my words."

However, as public backlash grew, he eventually expressed "regret" at a campaign pledge announcement event. When public opinion did not subside despite the expression of "regret," Yoon raised the level of his apology again through SNS, saying he was "sorry." The overall apology gave the impression that it was a reluctant apology, and when a photo of Yoon holding an apple during the doljabi (first birthday ritual) surfaced, questions about sincerity arose.

Moreover, on SNS, where Yoon created a pet dog as the main character to enhance his public friendliness, a photo appeared showing him giving an apple to the dog. Those who saw the SNS post expressed dissatisfaction, questioning how the public who demanded an apology would perceive it.

Former lawmaker Yoo criticized, "I thought Candidate Yoon would sincerely reflect on the Jeon Du-hwan regime that truly destroyed our constitutional order, admit his mistakes, and apologize sincerely to the people," adding, "How can such a thing happen on the same day as the apology to the public?" Yoo also criticized, "Isn't this a remark trying to exploit regionalism?"