Jo Dong-yeon "Apologizes for Privacy Issue"... Opposition: "Lee Jae-myung's Image Cleansing Attempt"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The ruling and opposition parties have been engaged in daily conflicts over Cho Dong-yeon, co-chairman of the Democratic Party's joint standing election committee. On the 2nd, Cho directly responded to an interview and addressed the personal life controversies raised by some. The opposition continues negative attacks, disparaging Cho as a tool for Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, to "clean up his image."

On the same day, Cho appeared on the radio and said, "Many people must have felt discomfort and anger due to my personal life, and I am very sorry and apologetic," adding, "My heart is very heavy." Introduced as a 30-something working mom and a military veteran space industry expert, Cho faced personal life-related allegations from conservative figures such as lawyer Kang Yong-seok immediately after her appointment.

Cho tearfully revealed her divorce, saying, "I wanted to ask whether people like me are not allowed the opportunity to show my children a more confident working mother after 10 years, or after 20 or 30 years, or whether people like me are not even allowed the chance to take on challenges called dreams after spending that time." She also actively refuted the controversy over whether she is truly a space industry expert.

However, the opposition continued to criticize Cho's appointment using harsh expressions such as "disposable tissue." Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, harshly criticized, saying, "It seems that Candidate Lee is recklessly putting forward people to clean up his bad image," and "In the end, they are filling the front lines with people who are used and discarded like disposable tissues."

Kim Byung-joon, standing election committee member of the People Power Party, who caused controversy the previous day by comparing Cho to a "brooch on a combat uniform," appeared on the radio again on this day and said, "Even if the opponent is male, I say the same things well," and "I cannot erase the thought that young people are being used too much as accessories."

Regarding the series of controversies, Candidate Lee stated, "All politicians are responsible to the people," and "I will observe the judgment of the people," expressing a reserved stance.