Hong Jun-pyo's Controversial Remark on 'Park Won-soon Chae Hong-sa'... Kwon Young-se Says "No Wonder There's Aversion"

Hong Jun-pyo "Rumors that late Mayor Park Won-soon had a 'Chaehongsa'... Urges truth investigation"
Jin Joong-kwon "Hong Jun-pyo, did you watch 'Sunday Seoul' a lot during school days?"

Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo has sparked controversy by urging a thorough investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, claiming that there "might have been a 'Chaehongsa'." The term Chaehongsa (採紅使) refers to officials dispatched to the provinces during King Yeonsangun's reign to find beautiful women.

On the 13th, Hong posted on his Facebook, "The main perpetrator of the sexual harassment committed suicide, and even if there is no inheritance, the accomplices are clearly still alive, and since the employer, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, holds legal responsibility, only the deceased are exempt from prosecution rights."

He continued, "There are rampant rumors that the victim was not just one person, and even talk that someone played the role of Chaehongsa," adding, "To suppress such rumors, the prosecution and police must conduct a more thorough investigation, and the opposition party should at least form a task force."

Hong’s 'Chaehongsa theory' has drawn criticism from both inside and outside the political sphere. On the morning of the 14th, Kwon Young-se, a member of the United Future Party, shared an article related to Hong’s remarks on his Facebook, writing, "This is why many people feel reluctant about his joining the party."

He added, "This is a person who was once a conservative party presidential candidate, yet he not only utters mere rumors but even puts them into writing," and criticized, "I even wonder if his true intention is to oppose uncovering the truth."

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon also criticized Hong’s remarks. On the same day, he sarcastically wrote on his Facebook, "This person must have read 'Sunday Seoul' too much during his school days. This is the aftereffect. Just look at the level." Sunday Seoul was an adult weekly magazine published from 1968 to 1991.

Meanwhile, Hong also emphasized the opposition party’s active response. On the 14th, he wrote on his Facebook, "Following Ahn Hee-jung and Oh Keo-don, this incident involving Park Won-soon, along with other sexual harassment cases involving Democratic Party figures, could mark the beginning of women’s aversion toward the entire Democratic Party," adding, "This will not be resolved by a simple apology from party leader Lee Hae-chan. I expect the opposition party to play an active role in revealing the truth."

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