Yoon Seok-yeol: "The controversy over the palm '王' gesture was my fault... I apologize to the people"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Yoon Seok-yeol, former Prosecutor General and presidential candidate of the People Power Party, expressed regret regarding the character "왕 (王)" meaning "king" that was written on his palm during several broadcast debates. Competing candidates also raised questions suspecting his connections with fortune-tellers and monks.

At the 6th debate of the People Power Party presidential primary on the 5th, Yoon acknowledged, "Would I have written the character '왕 (王)' on my palm myself?" and admitted, "I just took it lightly as a form of support, which was my fault." Regarding the writing appearing during three broadcasts, Yoon explained, "Several people came to my apartment; the character was written small twice and larger the third time," adding, "Even after wiping, it did not come off."

However, competing candidates criticized not only the act of having the character '왕 (王)' written but also the entire explanation process afterward.

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung said, "President Nixon of the United States faced impeachment and resigned not because of the wiretapping incident itself but because of the subsequent reversal," adding, "It is truly deplorable that presidential candidates are embroiled in controversies over lies rather than competing with visions for the country's future."

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min mentioned several names to ask whether Yoon frequently met with shamans or fortune-tellers. Yoo questioned, "Did Yoon, his wife, and mother-in-law often meet with fortune-tellers or shamans?" In response, Yoon said, "I do not meet such people often," and added, "There are Korean women who go to get their fortunes told, but..."

People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo pointed out, "The issue of the '왕 (王)' talisman was even reported by foreign media in Hong Kong," calling it "an international embarrassment and a mistake." Yoon apologized, saying, "I feel sorry to the people." However, when asked today whether he had any talisman, Yoon defended himself, saying, "If I thought it was a talisman, would I go around with it on my palm?"

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