"Accepted the Outcome Despite Primary Disadvantages... Cannot Tolerate Mockery"
Yang Moon-seok, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Ansan City Gap in Gyeonggi Province, has been embroiled in controversy over derogatory remarks about the late President Roh Moo-hyun, while Jeon Hae-cheol, a Democratic Party lawmaker, raised his voice saying, "I cannot help but feel anger and deep sorrow at the insulting and mocking remarks about President Roh."
Yang Moon-seok, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Gyeonggi Ansan Gap, is paying respects at the tomb of former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam, on the morning of the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News
Jeon, who served as the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs at the Blue House during former President Roh's tenure, said on his Facebook on the 18th, "The spirit of Roh Moo-hyun is the root of our party and the foundation of its identity, and it must be protected."
Jeon argued that Yang’s offensive remarks were not mistakes but "a reflection of his worldview and perception." He said, "He repeatedly used derogatory terms such as watermelon, cockroach, and pus to refer to lawmakers from the same party, including myself, and showed no hesitation in disparaging citizens who support other parties as '2jig' (a derogatory term for the opposition). He also described the entire Ansan Gap, where he is running, as a 'dirty and mischievous neighborhood.'"
He added, "Despite enduring such offensive remarks and disadvantages in the primary, he accepted the primary results for the sake of the Democratic Party’s general election victory and party unity. However, Yang’s critical remarks about the President have gone beyond an acceptable range in terms of frequency, severity, and content."
Meanwhile, Yang visited Bongha Village in Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, on the same day to pay respects at the late President Roh’s gravesite. Yang said, "I came here with a repentant heart," adding, "I apologize to the bereaved family and to the citizens who liked and missed former President Roh Moo-hyun."
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