A Man in His 50s Who Threw a Shoe at President Moon Faces Detention Decision

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The pre-trial detention hearing (warrant review) for Jeong Chang-ok (57), who threw a shoe at President Moon Jae-in during his visit to the National Assembly, concluded in about two hours.

At around 3:56 p.m. on the 19th, Jeong, leaving the summary court at the Seoul Southern District Court, briefly answered "No" to reporters' question, "Was the shoe-throwing premeditated?"

Kim Tae-hoon, a lawyer from the Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea (Hanbyun), who is providing legal support to Jeong, read aloud Jeong's final statement written by himself in front of the press.

In the statement, Jeong criticized, "If the person who performed the shoe-throwing is detained, the court handling the case will be a lackey of the regime, a pro-North Korean leftist dog that has abandoned constitutional values."

The warrant review hearing was conducted from 2 p.m. under the presiding judge Kim Jin-cheol, and the decision on detention is expected to be made late in the afternoon.

Jeong is accused of throwing a shoe at President Moon while attending the opening ceremony of the 21st National Assembly at around 3:19 p.m. on the 16th in front of the main entrance on the 2nd floor of the National Assembly building, after the president finished his speech (charges: obstruction of official duties and trespassing).

The shoe thrown by Jeong landed a few meters beside President Moon. The police arrested Jeong on the spot, and the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul applied for an arrest warrant on the 17th, stating "the matter is very serious."

At the scene, Jeong explained the reason for the act, saying, "President Moon shouted fake peace and ruined the economy without any remorse, humiliating the people, so I threw the shoe to let him feel humiliation directly."

Jeong stated that he does not belong to any organization, but it is known that he is the father of candidate Jeong Mo, who ran for the Uri Party in the 21st National Assembly election.

Jeong was confirmed to have been active as a co-representative of the North Korean human rights organization 'NamBuk Hamkke Gukmin Yeonhap' (National Union for North and South Together).

Also, it has been reported that Jeong has a past record of being detained on charges of sexual crimes against minors while working as a theater actor in 1995.

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