"Park Won-soon as Role Model" Woo Sang-ho... Women's Groups Demand "Seoul Mayor Candidate Withdraw"

Woo Sang-ho, on 'Park Won-soon Role Model' Controversy: "My Whole Life Is Not a Role Model"

Assemblyman Woo Sang-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea, running in the Seoul mayoral by-election. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 15th, women's organizations strongly opposed and called for the resignation of Woo Sang-ho, the Democratic Party preliminary candidate running for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, for describing the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon as a 'role model.'

The Korean Women's Political Network held a press conference in front of Woo's campaign headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon and raised their voices, saying, "Woo must sincerely apologize to the victims of Park Won-soon's sexual violence and withdraw from the Seoul mayoral race."

The group stated, "Woo, who is running as a candidate in this by-election caused by the powerful sexual violence case of former Mayor Park, has no qualifications as a candidate as he shows no interest or sensitivity toward the responsibility for the powerful sexual violence case and the victim's recovery."

They added, "If he had ever thought even once about the feelings of the victims who face endless denial of the facts and defense of the perpetrator without time to recover, he would not have made such remarks," demanding an apology to the victims.

Earlier, on the 10th, Woo posted a memorial message for former Mayor Park on his Facebook, which sparked controversy over 'secondary harm.'

At that time, Woo said, "Mayor Park Won-soon was a role model of innovation for me and a comrade who discussed democracy and human rights," and emphasized, "I will take the lead in inheriting Mayor Park Won-soon's policies and developing his dreams. 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 particular, he mentioned a passage from a letter by Park's wife, Kang Nan-hee, saying, "'Park Won-soon is my comrade until the moment my life ends,'" and wrote, "I clenched my teeth and my eyes welled up. How hard it must have been. How did she endure it?"

As criticism arose over these remarks, Woo clarified, "It does not mean that the entire life of former Mayor Park is a role model."

He appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that day and said, "It is not that the entire life of former Mayor Park is a role model, but that he is my role model for innovation," adding, "I empathize with the many wounds and pains the victim suffered."

He continued, "I will do my best to create fundamental measures to prevent such incidents from happening again in Seoul and to help the victim return to normal life," and said, "I hope people will not be too hurt by the fact that I comforted the bereaved family of (former Mayor Park)."

However, when asked by the host, "Did you not consider conveying your opinions privately to the bereaved family?" Woo dismissed the question, saying, "Stop it. Haven't I said enough?"

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