"Park Won-soon Succession" Woo Sang-ho.. Supporter Rally VS Overreach

'Atmosphere Reversal Card' Expected
Na Kyung-won Criticizes "Woo, Truly a Ruthless Politician"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Woo Sang-ho, a member of the Democratic Party running as a preliminary candidate for the Seoul mayoral by-election, is facing growing controversy over his statement that he would "inherit Park Won-soon." It appears to be a strategic move to rally pro-government supporters sympathetic to the late Mayor Park in the party's primary, but criticism has arisen that it was a "reckless move" given that the National Human Rights Commission recently confirmed the sexual harassment and misconduct allegations against the late mayor as factual.

Not only opposition party lawmakers but also A, a former secretary who exposed the sexual harassment allegations against the late Park Won-soon, have strongly criticized Woo's remarks.

Earlier, on the 10th, Woo posted on his Facebook, "I will take the lead in inheriting Mayor Park Won-soon's policies and advancing his dreams," adding, "With the mindset that Park Won-soon is Woo Sang-ho, and Woo Sang-ho is Park Won-soon, I will carry out Seoul city policies."

In response, A, the former secretary who revealed the sexual harassment allegations, wrote a post titled "To Representative Woo Sang-ho, a letter from a victim of power sexual violence by the Seoul mayor," stating, "Empathy for someone can be violence to someone else," and "Your empathy for the late mayor's bereaved family is a crushing violence to me and my family, the victims."

A criticized Woo's declaration to inherit Park's policies by saying, "Will you inherit policies such as making public officials receive proxy prescriptions, organizing the mayor's underwear, and buying holiday food for the mayor's family?" She added, "Thanks to your post, my family and I, the victims, are once again facing the holidays with a broken heart." She further said, "Hearing that you are gritting your teeth makes me feel as if you are telling me never to return to the workplace, which is utterly hopeless."

Candidates in the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral primary also fiercely condemned Woo's remarks. Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won said, "This is secondary harm to the victim and political agitation," calling him "a truly cruel merchant." Former lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan said, "No matter how urgent the party primary is, one must not lose basic discernment," adding, "If you have any conscience, you should not provoke the victim repeatedly." Seocho District Mayor Cho Eun-hee also criticized, saying, "'Park Won-soon is Woo Sang-ho, and Woo Sang-ho is Park Won-soon'?what exactly are you trying to inherit? Are you trying to inherit sexual harassment?" She added, "Woo Sang-ho, who is losing in the party primary, is going all-in on the 'Ddaekae-moon' (hardcore supporters of President Moon Jae-in) votes to win the primary first."

Woo explained the controversy over secondary harm by saying, "It was an expression made with the hope that the bereaved family of the late Mayor Park would overcome their grief and recover well."

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