Jung Yong-jin Posts 'Candlelight Cake' on SNS... Receives Comments Supporting "Torch of Anti-Communism"

Photo by Jeong Yong-jin Instagram, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Controversy continues over Jung Yong-jin, Vice Chairman of Shinsegae Group's 'Myeolgong' remarks. On this day, comments related to 'Myeolgong' also followed a cake photo posted by Vice Chairman Jung on SNS.

On the 11th, Vice Chairman Jung posted a photo of a cake on his Instagram, saying "Special case for a very special event." In the photo, there is a single ring and a single candle placed on a red jewelry box.

Although the post was different from the 'Myeolgong' posts he uploaded the day before, netizens added hashtags such as '#Myeolgong' and '#ChukMyeolgong' and wrote comments like "Torch of Myeolgong," "Candle of Myeolgong," and "Myeolgong is love."

On the ramen post he uploaded the same day, netizens also responded with comments like "#Anchovy #It would be delicious with bean sprouts," and "#MyeolgongRamen."

Park Young-sun, Chair of the Digital Transformation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea's Presidential Campaign Committee. / Photo by Yonhap News

The 'Myeolgong' controversy continues in the political sphere as well. On the 12th, Park Young-sun, Chair of the Digital and Innovation Great Transformation Committee of the Democratic Party's Presidential Election Committee, criticized in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' saying, "In the end, who was destroyed in Myeolgong? (Jung Yong-jin) Himself."

She added, "Shinsegae's stock price has dropped significantly. As far as I know, over 200 billion won has been lost. It has returned as an owner risk and corporate risk," and "Also, those hurt by this are small business owners and self-employed people."

Meanwhile, the 'Myeolgong' controversy began when Vice Chairman Jung posted a photo of a hangover cure on his Instagram on the 6th with the hashtag 'Myeolgong.' Instagram deleted posts with the 'Myeolgong' tag, citing 'guideline violations,' and Vice Chairman Jung protested by repeatedly posting with the 'Myeolgong' tag.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk criticized Vice Chairman Jung, spreading the controversy into the political arena. On the 7th, Cho posted on his Twitter, "There is a chaebol chairman in 21st century South Korea who posts a hangover cure photo with the word Myeolgong. Almost at the level of Yoon Seok-youl," targeting him.

Subsequently, Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, visited an E-Mart store on the 8th and purchased anchovies and beans reminiscent of 'Myeolgong,' and former lawmaker Na Kyung-won and others also took photos buying anchovies and beans at large supermarkets, spreading the issue further.