Democratic Party: "Yoon Refusing TV Debate Seems Due to Health Decline... Could Only Drink 4 Bombanju Shots" Direct Criticism

Opposition: "It Seems the Statement About Considering Condition Was Misinterpreted"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] On the day the People Power Party refused the second TV debate scheduled for the 8th, citing presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol's health, reports emerged that Yoon had a drinking gathering. In response, the Democratic Party criticized, saying "Health was just an excuse."

Earlier, OhmyNews reported that on the 5th, after finishing his schedule in Jeju, Yoon joined reporters for dinner and drank several glasses of 'Somaek,' a mix of soju and beer. However, on the same day, during the four-party presidential candidate TV debate working-level negotiations, the People Power Party argued for postponing the debate, citing bias from the hosting broadcaster and Yoon's health.

On the 7th, Yoon Ho-jung, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, raised his voice at the election headquarters chief meeting held at the party office, saying, "Netizens are calling Yoon 'Yoon Gyeol-ryeol' and 'Yoon Do-mang' (wordplays on his name implying failure and escape). I wonder if the party is embarrassed by the candidate and avoiding the debate, or if the candidate himself lacks confidence and is running away."

He then referred to the report about Yoon's drinking gathering, stating, "I really don't understand what is going on. We need to clarify whether he is unable to properly manage his health or if health is merely an excuse."

Woo Sang-ho, the general election headquarters director, also mocked at the same meeting, "It seems true that Yoon's health is abnormal. Because someone who usually drinks 20 bomb shots can only drink 3 or 4 glasses in Jeju, it appears his health has significantly deteriorated."

He added, "However, this health deterioration does not seem severe enough to avoid a TV debate. It looks like an attempt to evade public scrutiny, which admits he lacks the qualifications to become president."

As the controversy continued, Seong Il-jong, a People Power Party lawmaker in charge of the TV debate negotiation team, explained on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 7th, "His (Yoon's) health is quite good," adding, "Since he has many local schedules, consideration of his condition might have been misunderstood."