[Comprehensive] "Protect Seoul" Ko Min-jung's Tearful Appeal... Opposition Party Criticizes as "Emotional Manipulation"

Gominjung "Could not hold back tears after hearing citizens at campaign site"
"Have you ever cried for a sexual harassment victim?" Opposition backlash
Former Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual harassment victim A to hold press conference on 17th
"Many people in the Democratic Party election camp hurt me"
Ruling party's indirect criticism of three 'victim claimants'

Democratic Party lawmaker Go Min-jung is seen shedding tears while being embraced by citizens at the campaign site of Seoul mayoral candidate Park Young-sun on the 27th. / Photo by Go Min-jung Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] With the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election just 9 days away, the political tension between the ruling and opposition parties is intensifying. When a photo was released showing Go Min-jeong, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, tearfully appealing for support for Democratic candidate Park Young-sun while being embraced by a citizen on a rainy street, the People Power Party immediately reacted, dismissing it as mere emotional manipulation.

Earlier, on the 27th, Go posted on her Facebook along with photos, saying, "On a rainy spring afternoon, I met residents of Gwangjin while appealing for support for candidate Park Young-sun," and added, "In the somewhat chilly weather, one person approached me and said, 'We support you. Don’t get tired. Let’s work together to protect Seoul,' and gave me a warm hug."

In the photo posted by Go, she is seen crying while being embraced by a citizen holding an umbrella.

Regarding this, Go said, "Perhaps because I heard the words I wanted to say, I couldn’t hold back my tears," and added, "That person and I hugged each other tightly in the rain for quite some time."

She continued, "Before I knew it, the cold had gone, leaving only warmth, courage, and a strong determination to protect the citizens of Seoul," emphasizing, "Together with more citizens, we will build a greater Seoul."

Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, is holding a focused campaign rally on the morning of the 28th at the Gyeongbu Line Square of the Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

The opposition party immediately pushed back against Go’s post, claiming her tears were nothing more than an emotional ploy aimed at swaying voters.

Kim Ye-ryeong, spokesperson for the People Power Party, released a statement on the 29th, saying, "Have you ever shed tears even once for the victims? Have you ever embraced the people who have to endure this election because of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s sexual harassment?" She condemned it as "the worst kind of emotional manipulation."

She added, "If you are truly sorry, show restraint before the people," emphasizing, "The shameless and brazen trio of victims’ complainants are proving exactly why this by-election is being held and why the Moon Jae-in administration must be judged in this election."

Kim Woong, also from the same party, posted on Facebook the same day, stating, "The harsh words thrown at the victim cannot be erased by a tear show," and sarcastically remarked, "Even the last princess Anastasia wept, but the monarchy did not return."

On the morning of the 17th, a seat was prepared for the late Park Won-soon sexual violence case victim at the press conference titled 'Speaking Together with the Victims of the Seoul Mayor's Sexual Violence Case' held at a hotel in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, victim A of former Mayor Park’s sexual harassment case held a press conference at a hotel in Seoul on the 17th, stating, "There are many people in (Park Young-sun’s) election camp who hurt me," and urged, "There should have been acknowledgment of the facts and follow-up measures." This was interpreted as an indirect criticism of Democratic Party lawmakers Nam In-soon, Jin Sun-mi, and Go Min-jeong, who joined Park’s campaign.

These three lawmakers were previously involved in controversy for referring to victim A as a "complainant," which sparked accusations of secondary victimization early in the Park case.

Go had served as the spokesperson for Park’s election campaign. However, following victim A’s press conference, she stepped down from the position the next day, on the 18th.

Since then, Go has been actively campaigning at Park’s election events. On the 28th, she visited several locations in Seoul, including Jayang Traditional Market, Children’s Grand Park, and Yangkkochi Street?Rodeo Street, starting from 2 p.m., and at 9 p.m., she continued her campaign through her personal YouTube channel, "Go Min-jeong TV Live."

During a broadcast on the 25th on the same channel, when a supporter commented, "You should rest a bit," she replied, "I don’t have much peace of mind," and added, "Today, too, I greeted people around Gwangjin-gu starting from 6:40 p.m."

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