Proxy gaming, drunk driving... Justice Party proportional candidates face consecutive controversies

Ryu Ho-jeong, the first proportional representative candidate of the Justice Party and co-chair of the Youth Joint Election Countermeasures Committee, is speaking at the launch ceremony of the Election Countermeasures Committee for Overcoming the COVID-19 Livelihood Crisis held at the National Assembly on the 11th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Candidates placed at the top of the Justice Party's proportional representation list have been embroiled in a series of ethical controversies, including allegations of 'proxy gaming' and past drunk driving offenses.

Hwang Hee-du, a former professional gamer and member of the Democratic Party's nomination committee, stated on his Facebook on the 12th, "Korea is a proud 'eSports pioneer.' Many young people and adolescents are angered because some netizens still think of 'games = addiction' and dismissively say, 'It's just a game, why make a fuss?'" He added, "Without sincerely understanding their anger, claims of being pro-game or communicating with youth will ultimately feel like an 'empty echo' to the majority of young people."

On the 6th, after Ryu Ho-jeong was selected as the number one candidate for the Justice Party's proportional representation, allegations of 'proxy gaming' surfaced. Ryu was accused of lending her gaming ID to others to play on her behalf and raise her game level while serving as president of Ewha Womans University’s eSports club in 2014. Proxy gaming refers to entrusting one's account to another person to increase the game rank in exchange for money or other benefits, which is currently illegal.

On the 12th, Ryu also posted on her Facebook, "Although it happened six years ago, I am ready to apologize repeatedly. I apologize once again," but stated that she did not get a job based on achievements gained through proxy gaming. She said, "If necessary, I will disclose my resume and portfolio from that time," and added, "There was no so-called 'spec' obtained through unfair means."

Lee Jeong-mi, co-chair of the Justice Party's election committee, also commented on the same day regarding Ryu's 'proxy gaming' controversy, saying, "Ryu did not personally profit or gain from this. The claim that she secured employment through this experience is not true."

Ethical issues were also raised about candidate number six, lawyer Shin Jang-sik. He was fined a total of 6 million won for violating road traffic laws, including one instance of drunk driving and three instances of driving without a license between 2006 and 2007. Shin explained in an apology on the 1st that due to the driver's diabetes and kidney failure causing an inability to drive, he had no choice but to drive without a license as a passenger. Regarding the two instances of unlicensed driving, he explained that he drove to meet the lecture schedule at the academy where he was teaching at the time.

Candidate number two on the proportional list, young film director Jang Hye-young, also sparked controversy for using the term 'Megalia.' On the 15th of last month, she posted on her Twitter, "Please send your second Megal to the National Assembly." 'Megalia' is a shortened term for a male-hating community called 'Megalia.'

Subsequently, a netizen criticized on the Justice Party's proportional primary bulletin board, saying, "Candidate Jang uses the term 'Megalia' without any hesitation. If a person with such an attitude becomes a member of the National Assembly representing our party, how can any young man support our party? Can a party that has a National Assembly member who is hostile to all young men and supports hatred against them ever come to power?"

On the 9th, Jang posted a statement on her Twitter, saying, "There seem to be people who have no interest in women's structural suffering but only focus on the name 'Megalia.' We desperately need more citizens who think and speak independently without fear of being stigmatized, and more safe connections among those citizens."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.