From Harsh Words to False Excuses... Lee Jae-myung's Decision to Cancel Jeong Bong-ju's Nomination

Revisiting the 'Controversial Remarks' Before the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics
"If You Step on a Landmine, Let's Give Crutches as a Prize"
Democratic Party Cancels Nomination... Discussing Strategic Designation

The Democratic Party of Korea canceled the nomination of former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju, who caused controversy over a false apology related to his 'crutch prize' remark. This came just three days after he won the primary against lawmaker Park Yong-jin in Seoul Gangbuk-gu Eul.

Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party spokesperson, stated in a written briefing on the 14th, "Representative Lee Jae-myung decided to proceed with the re-nomination process for the Democratic Party candidate in the Seoul Gangbuk-gu Eul constituency, following party rules, as candidate Jeong Bong-ju, who passed the primary in first place, caused public concern due to the controversy over a false apology regarding victims of wooden box landmines."

Former Assemblyman Jeong Bong-ju. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

The problematic remark dates back to 2017. At that time, ahead of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, former lawmaker Jeong said on his podcast, "Isn't there something cool in the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)? An ankle landmine," adding, "We enter the DMZ, offer prizes, and give crutches to those who step on ankle landmines." Previously, in August 2015, soldiers conducting a search operation in the DMZ in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, lost legs and ankles due to the explosion of wooden box landmines planted by North Korean troops. Jeong's remarks were suspected of mocking this incident, sparking fierce criticism.

After his primary victory, as the incident was re-examined, Jeong stated on Facebook that he had "apologized by phone to the parties involved." However, the injured soldiers from the 2015 accident publicly stated through the media that they had "never received an apology from former lawmaker Jeong," turning the verbal controversy into one over false explanations. Jeong further clarified on Facebook that he had apologized by phone to Lee Jong-myung, a lawmaker from the Liberty Korea Party who criticized his remarks, and that he could not obtain contact information for the soldiers, so he apologized on his podcast the day after the remarks.

Representative Lee Jae-myung is believed to have taken strong measures out of concern for the negative impact on the general election landscape and to prevent further spread of the controversy. Previously, the People Power Party canceled nominations for lawmaker Jeong Woo-taek, who was suspected of accepting money envelopes, and candidate Do Tae-woo, who was involved in the 'May 18 distortion' controversy.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is talking with fellow lawmakers at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Democratic Party is expected to consider whether to designate the Gangbuk-gu Eul constituency as a strategic district. If selected as a strategic district, the party can arbitrarily decide the primary candidate. Ahn Kyu-baek, head of the Strategic Nomination Management Committee, explained on BBS Radio that morning, "In such cases, strategic nomination is possible," adding, "The principle is to nominate a third person."

However, incumbent lawmaker Park Yong-jin, who faced former lawmaker Jeong in the primary, insists that the candidate should be re-nominated. Park's side stated in a press release, "If the replacement of candidate Jeong is decided not through a re-examination but by designating a strategic election district despite no basis in party rules, it will be a decision contrary to party rules and cause further confusion."