Lee Jae-myung's Close Associate Jeong Seong-ho Apologizes for 'DollimX Remark'... "It Was Inappropriate"

Jeong Seong-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony of the '2021 Korea Basic Income Expo' held last April at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 1 in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] Jeong Seong-ho, a key aide to Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, apologized after causing controversy with his use of the term 'dollimX'.

On the 13th, in an interview with Yonhap News TV's 'News 1st Street,' Rep. Jeong criticized the overheated primary race, saying, "It is problematic that in a neighborhood fight, the other people attack and scrutinize the person who fights the best, as if they are collectively 'dollimX'-ing him."

He added, "Discussing personal life issues during the party primary turns the process into a mudslinging contest and lowers its dignity."

Regarding Rep. Jeong's 'dollimX' remark, candidate Chung Sye-kyun's camp immediately protested, saying, "The language used by Lee Jae-myung's side has gone too far."

Kim Seong-su, head of media and public relations for Chung Sye-kyun's campaign, issued a statement that day, criticizing, "Not long after the candidate apologized for the 'pants' controversy, a top official in the camp used a vulgar term referring to group assault or sexual crime to attack other presidential candidates."

He added, "We are deeply concerned that the verbal abuse that started with 'snake oil salesman' will continue," and said, "For the dignity of the entire party, deep reflection and restraint at the campaign level are required."

In response, Rep. Jeong apologized on his Facebook, saying, "It was my fault to use an inappropriate metaphor that did not reflect my intention."

He explained, "When asked about the situation where Governor Lee was being intensely attacked by other candidates during the Democratic Party preliminary debate broadcast, I used the metaphor 'being dollimX-ed' to describe it," adding, "I intended to point out the inappropriateness of focusing scrutiny on only one candidate when the debate should be a fair and balanced mutual verification."

He reiterated his apology, saying, "I apologize for causing misunderstanding by using an inappropriate expression in that metaphor."

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