[Asia Economy reporters Ki-min Lee and Ju-seok Naju] The Democratic Party of Korea's Election Countermeasures Committee Task Force (TF) on Current Issues responded on the 28th to allegations of preferential hospitalization of Lee Jae-myung's eldest son, Dong-ho, during his military service at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital by releasing the 'Personnel Service Record' and 'Copy of Medical Records Certificate,' denying the preferential treatment claims. Park Soo-young, a member of the People Power Party, countered that the core issue was Dong-ho's hospitalization at the Seongnam Armed Forces Capital Hospital without a 'personnel order.'
The TF held a press conference at the Yeouido party headquarters, stating, "According to the personnel service record containing the service details of the candidate's son, it is clearly recorded that he took a leave of absence from July 19 to 28, 2014, for ten days, and the copy of the medical records certificate also notes that he underwent surgery on July 24, 2014." They added, "It has been confirmed that he used a leave of absence due to injury during service following proper procedures and underwent surgery, revealing that claims of preferential hospitalization at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital and unconfirmed leave records are clearly false."
On the 26th, Representative Park issued a press release raising suspicions of preferential hospitalization, noting that Dong-ho, assigned to a unit in Jinju, Gyeongnam, was hospitalized at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital over 200 km away, which was unusual. Park also claimed that there was no personnel order document recording Dong-ho's hospitalization at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.
In response, the Democratic Party explained that Dong-ho used a leave of absence just before hospitalization and had surgery at a civilian hospital, while Representative Jeon Ju-hye of the People Power Party rebutted on the 27th, stating there was no record of the leave of absence.
The TF stated, "(Dong-ho) used a legitimate leave of absence according to Article 12 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Status of Soldiers and Military Service to undergo surgery at a civilian hospital, and according to the disclosed materials, all procedures and methods comply with laws and regulations."
At the press conference, TF leader Kim Seung-won explained when reporters asked why Dong-ho moved from Jinju, Gyeongnam to Seongnam for hospitalization, "He had surgery in Seongnam and then went to the nearby Armed Forces Capital Hospital."
Regarding Dong-ho's hospitalization period at the time, he drew a line, saying, "It is personal information, so it is difficult to disclose now." On the suspicion that no personnel order document exists, he responded, "The candidate's side has directly requested (verification)," and "We will present accurate evidence as soon as the response arrives."
He also pointed out, "This is the second time the People Power Party has spread false information about the eldest son, Dong-ho," and criticized, "They have recklessly spread fake news without cross-checking on issues that the public considers most serious, such as university admissions and military service, causing widespread misinformation."
He particularly claimed, "There is suspicion of an organized committee called the 'Again SNS Headquarters' with dozens of members indiscriminately spreading fake news."
On the same day, the Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office against Representative Park Soo-young for false information dissemination, urging a swift investigation, stating, "Even if the later disclosed false information is proven groundless, it damages the candidate's reputation and misleads voters in the presidential election, causing serious concerns about the reliability and objectivity of the presidential election."
Regarding this, Representative Park said via social media, "I have continuously raised the issue of preferential hospitalization due to admission to the Seongnam Armed Forces Capital Hospital without a 'personnel order,'" and added, "There is no 'personnel order' for the candidate's eldest son’s hospitalization at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in any of the evidence materials presented by Lee Jae-myung’s campaign today," demanding, "Candidate Lee should answer directly when asked about A."
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