Yoon's Shoe Stomp vs Lee's Indoor Smoking... Growing Voter Disappointment Over Unexpected 'Public Morality Dispute'

Negative clashes among presidential candidates over 'Gongjung Dodeok' and 'Citizen Awareness'
Voter fatigue rises due to low-quality controversies like shamanism, insults, and recordings
In 'Most Disliked Candidate' poll, Lee 40.9%, Yoon 35.5%

A dispute over "public morality" erupted between the presidential candidates of the two major parties. This has drawn strong criticism from citizens amid various controversies surrounding the candidates. The photo shows Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (left), and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] With less than a month remaining until the presidential election, a negative exchange erupted among presidential candidates over 'public morals.' Amid evaluations that this is the most disliked presidential election in history, the tension between both sides trying to undermine each other is becoming even sharper. As low-quality controversies repeat during the election phase, voter fatigue is also increasing.

The issue began with a 'shoe sole photo' of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate. On the 12th, while touring Honam on the 'Passion Train,' a Mugunghwa train chartered for the campaign, a photo was taken of Yoon with his shoe sole resting on the front-facing train seat while talking with his aides during the journey.

The ruling party criticized this, citing 'public morals' and 'lack of common sense.' Cho Seung-rae, chief spokesperson of the election campaign committee, held a briefing at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 13th, stating, "This is a seat used by the public. There is no consideration for others, no civic consciousness, and no public morals," and criticized, "Yoon's poor manners and lack of common sense, relying on privilege and authority throughout his life, are no longer surprising."

Lee So-young, spokesperson for the same party's campaign committee, also posted on her Facebook, saying, "Since he can't spread his legs sideways, is he stretching them straight ahead now?" and added, "Is the chartered train Yoon's living room? I am always shocked by his poor manners and lack of common sense. You can see a life lived on privilege and authority."

Lawmaker Go Min-jung also chimed in on Facebook, saying, "It's embarrassing if anyone sees this."

As the controversy did not subside, Yoon issued a statement through the party's election campaign public relations team on the same day, apologizing, "Due to light leg cramps from long hours of travel, I asked my aides for understanding and briefly raised my legs," and expressed regret for the lack of attention to detail.

Party leader Lee Jun-seok also explained on his Facebook the same day, saying, "The seat where (Yoon put his feet up) is the space where the candidate and I sit facing each other and talk," and clarified, "While I was away for about 10 minutes to do a broadcast, the candidate, who had been sitting knee-to-knee with me for nearly an hour, raised his legs briefly due to leg cramps."

Lee added, "Regardless of the circumstances, it was wrong, and I will be more careful to pay attention to such details in the future. I apologize again for causing concern," emphasizing that they cleaned the seat themselves and returned it.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, was confirmed to have placed his two feet wearing shoes on the seat opposite him on the train on the 12th. Photo by Go Min-jeong, member of the Democratic Party of Korea, Facebook capture.

This time, the opposition launched a counterattack. On the 14th, Kim Woong, a People Power Party lawmaker, posted on his Facebook a photo of candidate Lee Jae-myung smoking in a restaurant in 2014, saying, "Even though someone told him not to smoke, he did. I look forward to the reactions of those who suddenly criticized this as 'lack of public morals' and 'international embarrassment.'"

Hwang Gyu-hwan, spokesperson for the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters, also issued a statement that day, urging, "Candidate Lee Jae-myung should clarify to the public the circumstances and legality of smoking in a public restaurant."

Hwang pointed out that Lee's indoor smoking was illegal, citing the National Health Promotion Act. He said, "According to the National Health Promotion Act, from December 2012, restaurants over 150㎡, from January 2014, over 100㎡, and from January 2015, all restaurants regardless of size became completely non-smoking areas," adding, "Although the size of the restaurant cannot be confirmed, if it was over 100㎡, Lee's smoking was clearly illegal. Even if it was under 100㎡, that period was a 'special exception' phase aimed at voluntary compliance."

The Democratic Party responded by calling it a "textbook example of diversion" and "low-level negative campaigning." Jeon Yong-gi, spokesperson for the Democratic Party's campaign committee, explained on his Facebook on the 15th, "It's really low to bring up an old photo from eight years ago," and added, "There were no other customers inside, only his party members, and it was a casual setting where they even shared cigarettes. It's an event from eight years ago, so it shouldn't be judged by today's standards."

Jeon targeted candidate Yoon, saying, "After being criticized by the public for putting his shoe sole on the train seat and being called the 'Jokbal Train,' he didn't apologize properly but instead made excuses about leg cramps and regrets, and now brings up old photos to say 'he did wrong too' as a diversion," and criticized, "This is a 'textbook example of diversion.' It's 'low-level negative campaigning.' This is the 'old-fashioned politics' that must be overturned."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, was reported to have smoked indoors at a restaurant in 2014. Photo by Kim Woong, member of the People Power Party, Facebook capture.

Meanwhile, the 'dislike' sentiment toward the presidential candidates from both parties is also confirmed in recent polls. According to a joint survey conducted by Edaily and M&M Strategy Research Institute, commissioned to PMI Public, 1,013 adults aged 18 and over nationwide were asked about their 'most disliked candidate,' with candidate Lee Jae-myung receiving 40.9% and candidate Yoon Seok-yeol 35.5%.

Some attribute this to voters' growing disappointment due to repeated low-quality controversies during the election phase, including shamanism, verbal abuse, and leaked recordings. For detailed information, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission's website.

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