Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, on May 4 criticized Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae over a campaign incident in which Jeong urged a first-grade elementary school child to call Ha Jeong-woo, the Democratic Party’s candidate in the Busan Buk-gu Gap parliamentary by-election, “oppa.”
In a Facebook post, Song called it “the DNA of the ‘Democratic Molestation Party,’” and said it was “clear child sexual abuse” and “a violation of children’s rights.” He added, “Tomorrow is Children’s Day,” and urged Jeong and Ha to reflect on their understanding of children’s rights ahead of the holiday.
The controversy began after cameras captured Jeong during a visit the previous day to Gupo Market in Busan, where he appealed for support for Ha and pressed a first-grade girl to say, “Jeong-woo oppa.”
The People Power Party has continued to attack the Democratic Party over the incident, calling it “sexual harassment of a child” and “child abuse.” Jeong apologized on May 4, saying he was sorry to the child and the parents after the situation at Gupo Market put them at the center of the controversy, but the dispute was not expected to subside quickly.
Song also lashed out at the Democratic Party, citing a list of names — Park Won-soon, Oh Geo-don, Ahn Hee-jung, Jeong Bong-ju, Min Byung-doo, Park Wan-ju and Jang Kyung-tae — and saying the party’s “long-standing sexual violence DNA” had carried over to Jeong, whom he called an “oppa-forcing offender.” He added, “Did you even teach a lesson to Ha, who just joined the party?”
Song repeated that forcing a child to say “oppa” was “clear child sexual abuse” and a violation of children’s rights, and said Ha should stop meeting voters in Busan with that mindset and “pack up and leave Busan.” He also suggested they seek consulting to change their views.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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