An Min-seok: "'Kim Hye-kyung Fall Accident' Rumor... Yoon Camp Cheered 'The Election Is Over'"

"Yoon Camp and Fake News Likely Not Unrelated"

Kim Hye-kyung, wife of candidate Lee Jae-myung, in transit. / Photo by Lee Hae-sik

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Assemblyman An Min-seok, who serves as the Chief Special Advisor of the Democratic Party's presidential campaign committee, claimed that when rumors about a fall accident involving Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, were spread, "I heard that the Yoon Seok-yeol camp was cheering 'Banzai'."

In an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 15th, Assemblyman An said, "There was an accident involving candidate Lee Jae-myung's wife early last Wednesday. On that day, fake news claiming it was an accident caused by violence spread rapidly," adding, "From what I heard, the People Power Party camp, the Yoon Seok-yeol camp, was cheering 'Banzai.' They said the election was over."

He continued, "Since fake news spread throughout the day, I believe this incident is closely related to the organized dissemination of fake news by the Yoon Seok-yeol camp."

However, when the host asked, "Do you think the Yoon Seok-yeol camp was involved in some activities?" Assemblyman An replied, "I don't think the camp itself spread the fake news," but added, "I believe the camp is connected to the organized group producing fake news through coordinated comments."

When asked if there was any tip-off, he said, "It's not exactly a tip-off," but emphasized, "Malicious and organized production of fake news is an issue that must be strictly dealt with during the presidential election process."

Assemblyman An stated, "The facts are inside the 119 ambulance, which has CCTV. Also, if there had been violence, the paramedics would have recorded their observations in the log," adding, "It's a sad reality that baseless stories are spread as if they were true, forcing the candidate to explain directly."

Meanwhile, on the 10th, the Democratic Party filed a complaint with the prosecution against two netizens who raised suspicions that 'Kim's injury was caused by candidate Lee' for spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act, and on the previous day (14th), candidate Lee released a 50-second audio recording containing his voice reporting to 119 at the time.