"Insulting the People?" vs "Cooking Saengtaetang" - Testimony of Saengtaetang Owner Sparks Ruling and Opposition Clash

Owner of Saengtaetang Restaurant "Oh Se-hoon Visited After Surveying Naegok-dong"
"Would the People Lie?" vs "Political Conspiracy" Clash Between Ruling and Opposition Parties
Restaurant Owner's Son Announced Press Conference on 5th, Then Canceled

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, is being interviewed after casting his vote at the early voting station in Jayang 3-dong Community Center, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, is embroiled in a so-called 'testimony truth battle' following the testimony of a restaurant owner who claimed that Oh visited an ecological soup restaurant in Naegok-dong, Seoul, back in 2005. The opposition party criticized the restaurant owner, accusing him of 'throwing a tantrum,' escalating the dispute into a political confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. Amid growing controversy, the restaurant that raised suspicions about Oh's participation in land surveying initially announced a press conference but later canceled it.

The controversy arose on the 2nd when Mr. A, the owner of an ecological soup restaurant in Seoul, appeared on TBS's current affairs program 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' and claimed that Oh participated in land surveying in Naegok-dong in June 2005 and then came to eat at his restaurant.

On the broadcast, Mr. A said, "He (Oh) came. I remember," adding, "It must have been between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. since it was past lunchtime." He emphasized, "There was an elderly person among them, and Oh was more handsome, so I remember him better."

Mr. A's son, who also appeared on the program, claimed that Oh visited the restaurant and described his attire in detail, saying, "Oh was wearing white cotton pants and casual loafers. His shoes were quite stylish Ferragamo."

Assemblywoman Jo Su-jin, spokesperson for the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral by-election campaign committee / Photo by Yonhap News

In response, the opposition party criticized broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, who hosts TBS's 'News Factory,' and restaurant owner Mr. A, accusing them of 'throwing a tantrum.'

On the 3rd, Cho Su-jin, spokesperson for the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral by-election campaign committee, wrote on her Facebook, "The Democratic Party, candidate Park Young-sun, and Kim Eo-jun's 'political workshop' are desperately trying to cook up a tantrum soup." The term 'tantrum soup' is a pun on the ecological soup restaurant run by Mr. A, mocking the situation.

Cho also raised doubts about the testimony given by Mr. A on 'News Factory.' She said, "The material and color of the pants and the Ferragamo shoes seen 16 years ago are just the base ingredients of this tantrum soup," adding, "But only the foul stench of a nasty 'plot' lingers; wise Seoul citizens will not be fooled."

She continued, "Some may be deceived by this trick, but ultimately it will only deepen political distrust," and added, "April 7 will be the day to judge even the 'tantrums.'"

In response, the ruling party pushed back, saying this was "something that would make ecological soup restaurant owners nationwide rise up." They criticized the insulting remarks aimed at Mr. A, an ordinary citizen.

Jeong Cheong-rae, Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

On the 4th, Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party, wrote on Facebook, "(The People Power Party) seems to be intoxicated, raising a toast as if they have already won the election," and questioned, "The Naegok-dong restaurant owner is an ordinary citizen. Between an ordinary citizen and Oh Se-hoon, who is lying?"

He added, "They are throwing tantrums en masse, saying they are cooking tantrum soup using the restaurant owner's testimony as an excuse," and said, "I think they are repeatedly insulting the restaurant owner."

He further emphasized, "Especially during elections, even if it is somewhat unpleasant to hear, we should listen more carefully to the voices of ordinary citizens and show humility, but instead, they mock ecological soup as tantrum soup and insult them," adding, "The People Power Party's 'tantrum soup mockery' will anger ecological soup restaurant owners nationwide."

As the conflict between the ruling and opposition parties over the restaurant owner's testimony escalates, the restaurant initially expressed its intention to hold a press conference in front of Seoul City Hall to end the controversy but abruptly canceled it.

Mr. A's son told 'Hankyoreh' on the 4th, "I persuaded my mother to reveal to the media that Oh came to eat ecological soup, but even telling the truth makes us look like liars, and I am angry about the current situation," adding, "We will hold a press conference on the morning of the 5th to clearly state the facts. We will also take the credit card terminal to the company to obtain all payment records (of Oh)."

However, it was reported that Mr. A's son canceled the press conference on the 5th. According to multiple media reports, he decided to cancel the press conference due to concerns about retaliation and malicious comments if his identity were exposed.

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