'Gunpil One Team' Poster Creator: "Only Emphasized Security... Some Candidates Overinterpreted"

"No Connection to Candidate Lee Nak-yeon's Camp"
Controversy Over Poster Excluding 'Unfulfilled Military Service' Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi-do
Governor Posts Twisted Arm Photo on SNS in Direct Response
"No Disability Discrimination" Ruling Party Candidates Urge Restraint

Netizen and poster artist 'TheLeft' demanded an apology, stating that some of the Democratic Party presidential primary candidates "clearly misinterpreted my poster with a specific intention." / Photo by Twitter capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A netizen who created the so-called 'Gunpil One Team' poster, which sparked controversy over 'disparaging people with disabilities,' clarified that "it is my personal work and has no connection with candidate Lee Nak-yeon's campaign." The netizen pointed out that the poster was made solely to promote strong national security awareness and contains no content that belittles people with disabilities, criticizing that "the meaning was clearly intended but has been overinterpreted."

The Gunpil One Team poster is an image featuring only Democratic Party presidential hopefuls who have completed their military service, excluding Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, who did not fulfill his military duty due to a disability, which led to the controversy over disparaging people with disabilities.

The netizen known as 'The Left' explained in a post on their Twitter account on the 17th, "As a member of the Democratic Party, I created the 'Gunpil One Team' poster to emphasize our party's 'strong national security' and to support various candidates with one heart," adding, "This is because the meaning of a presidential candidate who has completed military service is special in the divided nation of the Republic of Korea."

Poster of Gunpilwon Team involved in controversy over derogatory remarks against disabled people / Photo by Internet homepage capture

They continued, "It is a personal work and has nothing to do with candidate Lee Nak-yeon's campaign," but pointed out, "However, some candidates distorted my good intentions and criticized and disparaged it as 'vile mudslinging and disparagement of people with disabilities.'"

They also urged, "An ordinary citizen, not a public official, made the image out of support for the candidates, but it was incited as if the campaign made it, causing fellow party members to feel insulted," and "I hope they acknowledge the mistake and apologize responsibly."

The Gunpil One Team poster created by this netizen shows Democratic Party presidential hopefuls who have completed their military service standing side by side, including former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, and lawmakers Kim Doo-kwan and Park Yong-jin. However, Lee Jae-myung, who has not completed military service, is excluded. At the bottom of the poster, the phrase "Even if policies compete, national security is one" and "Democratic Party Gunpil One Team" is written.

Arm photo posted by Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province / Photo by Facebook capture

Regarding this poster, Lee Jae-myung wrote on his Facebook on the 17th, "It is difficult to completely shake off the sorrow of disability," adding, "Seeing this poster reminded me of memories from my childhood."

He continued, "My mother swallowed her silent tears watching me wear only long-sleeved shirts even in midsummer to hide my left arm, which was twisted due to growth plate damage caused by being pressed in a press machine," and "It was only after meeting my wife and well into my thirties that I finally wore short-sleeved shirts. Many years have passed to overcome the inferiority complex of disability." Lee also posted a photo of his twisted arm caused by an injury during his time as a child laborer on Facebook.

Some candidates also raised their voices to stop the mudslinging.

Former Prime Minister Chung wrote on his Facebook that day, "This should not happen. Let's not do this," emphasizing, "Verification should not become mudslinging. Embracing the grievance of not being able to enlist in the military due to disability is the spirit of the Democratic Party."

Lawmaker Kim also criticized on Facebook, "Please exclude me. I do not want to participate in vile mudslinging," adding, "No one should be disparaged because of a disability."

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