'Dog Apple' Controversy Yoon Seok-yeol Targets Hong Joon-pyo? "Some People's Families Also Serve as Sponsorship Chairmen"

"My wife is not as active as other candidates' families"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, is listening to remarks during a conversation with Floor Leader Kim Ki-hyun at the Nam-gu-eul Party Association in Ulsan City on the afternoon of the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General, recently denied suspicions that his wife Kim Geon-hee was involved in managing his Instagram account, stating, "My wife is not as active as other candidates' families, so I don't think there is any need for such misunderstandings."

On the same day, after a press conference at the National Assembly, Yoon addressed questions from reporters about whether his wife had planned the staged apple photos, saying, "My wife was not aware of such details. I told her the story related to the apples, and I decided it would be good to do it," drawing a clear line.

Regarding allegations that the related photos were taken at his wife's office, he said, "Whether it was at home or some office, what does it matter? I did it," adding, "Some people even have family members serving as their campaign chairpersons; elections are, as the saying goes, a family business." This remark was interpreted as a direct reference to Representative Hong Joon-pyo, whose campaign chairperson is his wife Lee Soon-sam.

On the afternoon of the 20th, before the joint debate for the People Power Party presidential primary candidates from Daegu and Gyeongbuk held at Daegu MBC, Assemblyman Hong Joon-pyo is greeting supporters.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yoon previously sparked controversy for remarks defending former President Chun Doo-hwan and apologized twice via social media. However, he faced skepticism over his sincerity after releasing photos showing himself holding an apple at a first birthday party and staging scenes feeding apples to his pet dog, which instead drew public criticism.

Yoon stated, "I am fundamentally a liberal democrat. I cannot give a positive evaluation to any person or force that undermines the values of the liberal democratic constitution," but also said, "I apologize for the oversight regarding how the public might perceive this."

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