Mistaken Opponent Nation
Described as a Japan-Korea General Election Battle
Seo Young-kyo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, received backlash after posting a congratulatory message on social media for the football and baseball teams that won gold medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games, mistakenly confusing the opposing country. Another party member, Jung Chung-rae, referred to next year's general election as a Korea-Japan match.
On the 8th, Seo, a Supreme Council member, posted on Facebook, "Korea-Japan football match victory! Gold medal, Korea-Japan baseball match victory! Gold medal, well done."
However, the baseball final was actually a victory against Taiwan.
The comments were harsh. Responses included, "The baseball game was against Taiwan, not Japan. You had no interest but called it a gold medal win, trying to ride on the success," "Don't put your spoon in a sport you don't know or care about," and "A member of the National Assembly writes without even checking who Korea played baseball against. When obsessed with anti-Japan sentiment, your mind becomes so confused."
In response, Seo corrected the post the next day, on the 9th, stating, "Victory in the Korea-Taiwan baseball match! Gold medal."
Seo's office explained, "Seo personally followed the representative teams' matches, including the Korea-Japan football game and the baseball final against Taiwan. The intention was to celebrate the Korea-Japan baseball victory, but writing 'gold medal' together caused misunderstanding. It was meant to congratulate both the Korea-Japan and Korea-Taiwan victories."
Next year's general election was also likened to a Korea-Japan match. Jung Chung-rae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, posted on Facebook on the night of the 8th, "Congratulations. Korea-Japan football championship gold medal," followed by, "I hope we also win next year's Korea-Japan general election."
Referring to the April general election as a "Korea-Japan match" appears to label the ruling party, the People Power Party, as Japan. This is an extension of the Democratic Party's ongoing pro-Japan offensive against the government and ruling party.
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