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Criticism arises over mural disgracing wife of opposition presidential contender

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A man removes a phrase on a wall painting outside of a bookstore in Jongno, central Seoul, Friday, after controversy erupted over images and defamatory phrases depicting rumors surrounding the wife of opposition presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl. Yonhap
A man removes a phrase on a wall painting outside of a bookstore in Jongno, central Seoul, Friday, after controversy erupted over images and defamatory phrases depicting rumors surrounding the wife of opposition presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl. Yonhap

By Kim Rahn

Criticism has mounted from both the liberal ruling and conservative opposition blocs over a mural defaming the wife of opposition presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl.

Politicians from all sides unanimously called for a halt to the spreading of groundless rumors and the ridiculing of presidential hopefuls and their family members.

The controversy arose from a wall painting on a secondhand bookstore in Jongno, central Seoul, which depicted rumors surrounding Yoon's wife, Kim Keon-hee, that she had been a bar hostess using the nickname "Julie," and had lived with several high-profile men before marrying Yoon in 2012.

The painting showed the face of a woman with a phrase reading, "Julie's dream! The dream of becoming the first lady!" as well as a list of seven people under the title, "Julie's men," who were rumored to have had relationships with her before her marriage to Yoon.

Regarding the rumors, Yoon said earlier, "My wife does not like drinking and whooping it up."

Kim herself told a local media outlet that she was a workaholic, taking courses to obtain higher academic degrees, while running her own business, leaving no time to work as "Julie," even if she wanted to.

The mural was painted about two weeks ago upon the request of the bookstore's owner, surnamed Yeo, who said it was a satire and constituted freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the Constitution. Regarding the row over defaming Kim, the owner told Yonhap News Agency, Thursday, "Kim herself says she is not Julie. So who did the painting defame?"

Yeo said that he would remove the painting if the seven men admit their relationships with Julie, because then it would constitute defamation.

Members of conservative civic groups stage a rally in front of a bookstore in Jongno, central Seoul, Thursday, to protest against a wall painting that depicted rumors surrounding the wife of opposition presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl, ridiculing her. They parked a truck in front of the painting to cover it up. Yonhap
Members of conservative civic groups stage a rally in front of a bookstore in Jongno, central Seoul, Thursday, to protest against a wall painting that depicted rumors surrounding the wife of opposition presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl, ridiculing her. They parked a truck in front of the painting to cover it up. Yonhap

However, the owner removed the phrase and the list, Friday, as the controversy over the painting grew since Thursday, and supporters of Yoon and conservative YouTubers flocked to the place, lodging a protest against Yeo and blocking the painting with their cars. Yeo said he would instead set up a banner nearby on which anybody can express their opinions.

The incident has drawn criticism from not only Yoon and the conservative opposition camp, but also the liberal ruling bloc. Conservative opposition parties raised suspicions of political maneuvering by the ruling camp, since Yoon has been at odds with the Moon Jae-in administration. But the bookstore owner denied being influenced by any political group.

"The painting is low-quality libel and political violence committed in the name of freedom of expression," former Board of Audit and Inspection chief Choe Jae-hyeong, who recently joined the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) for his presidential bid, wrote on his Facebook account. "In the course of a presidential election, the capabilities and past wrongdoings of a candidate and their family need to be checked. But there's a line that should not be crossed."

PPP lawmaker Ha Tae-keung, another presidential contender, raised suspicions of the painting as having been planned by Moon's supporters.

"If you want to raise an issue about the 'qualification to become first lady,' you should clearly and officially say what the disqualification factor (for Kim) is. Do you want to make the irrational claim that a woman with a past cannot be the first lady?" Ha said.

Rep. Kim Sang-hee of the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), a National Assembly vice speaker, wrote on Facebook that it is very regretful to display a rumor in a public place and ridicule a specific individual.

"Yoon's family issues have emerged after he declared his presidential bid and these should be checked in various ways during the presidential race. However, such a reckless and irresponsible personal attack, irrelevant to politics, should not be made," she said.

A spokesperson for Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, a DPK presidential hopeful, said in a written commentary that people should not recklessly talk about Kim's personal life before marriage just because she is the wife of Yoon.

"Rather than ridiculing someone's private life before marriage, people should pay attention to other issues related to the nation's public interest," the commentary read, indicating the corruption allegations surrounding Kim, such as her involvement in alleged stock price manipulation and her having accepted bribes while running her business.


Kim Rahn rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr


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