People Power Party: "Organizer of Eopgi Gutpan Event Active in Lee Jae-myung's Campaign... Malicious Defamation"

Kim Eui-gyeom Presents Photos and Videos of '2018 Surukdaejae'... Claims "Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Gun-hee Lanterns Were Present"
Criticism of 'Animal Abuse' for Skinning a Live Cow at the Event
People Power Party: "Malicious Mudslinging... Event Secretary-General Currently Active in Ruling Party's Election Committee"

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Ui-gyeom held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd of last month, revealing photos and videos showing that Geonjin Beopsa attended the VIP opening event of the 'Mark Rothko' exhibition organized by Cobana Contents at the Seoul Arts Center in 2015.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The People Power Party's election campaign headquarters (campaign HQ) claimed that the secretary-general of the organizing committee of the 2018 event that sparked controversy over the "skinned cow" is currently active in the election campaign committee of Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party. This is seen as a countermeasure against Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom, who reignited the "shamanism controversy."

Earlier, Lawmaker Kim held a press conference at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the previous day and presented photos and videos of the "2018 Surukdaejae" held on September 9, 2018, at Jungangtap in Chungju, Chungbuk. Kim claimed that lanterns bearing the names of candidate Yoon and his spouse Kim Geon-hee were hung at the event.

Kim stated, "Although it looks like a Buddhist event, it was close to a shamanistic ritual where cowhide was skinned and displayed, and about ten pig carcasses were exhibited in front of the stage. It was a scene of animal cruelty that was cruel and even bizarre, which cannot be seen as a traditional Buddhist event. I confirmed the presence of the Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Geon-hee couple at that deviant scene."

In response, Choi Ji-hyun, senior deputy spokesperson of the campaign HQ, issued a statement on the 16th, saying, "Lawmaker Kim attempted a malicious slander without even verifying that the secretary-general of the organizing committee of the 2018 animal cruelty controversy event was a member of Lee Jae-myung's campaign, causing embarrassment and showing no remorse. I say this again."

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Choi listed the background of Seo, who was close to Lee and the ruling party, saying, "Seo, who was the secretary-general of the organization that hosted the animal cruelty controversy event in September 2018, is surprisingly close to Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party both then and now."

The mentioned background includes △June 2018: Chairman of the Buddhist Committee of Lee Jae-myung's Gyeonggi Province Governor campaign △September 2021: Advisory member of the 20th Presidential Committee on Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council △September 2021: Declaration of support for candidate Lee Jae-myung by seven religious organizations △January 2022: Receipt of appointment letter for the 4050 Committee Religious Headquarters of the campaign HQ from Song Young-gil, the party leader.

Lanterns hung at the event in 2018. Photo by the People Power Party Election Countermeasures Headquarters

He particularly pointed out that Seo's appointment as an advisory member of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council coincided with the timing of the support declaration for candidate Lee. Senior Deputy Spokesperson Choi said, "In September last year, Lee Jae-myung's close aide Seo was appointed as an advisory member of the Presidential Committee on Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council and simultaneously read the Democratic Party campaign HQ's support declaration on behalf of supporters. Is this coincidence or a quid pro quo? Was that the starting point of the Democratic Party and lawmaker Kim's malicious slander scheme?"

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Choi also claimed that the lanterns in the photos from the event bore the names of President Moon Jae-in and Chungbuk Governor Lee Si-jong of the Democratic Party, along with a special blue pattern. He urged, "Do you need me to make a card news to help you recognize reality? Please give up now and take legal responsibility along with the Democratic Party's responsibility for this tragic situation."

Meanwhile, Lawmaker Kim refuted the People Power Party's claim that President Moon's lantern was hung at the event, saying, "The president never sent a lantern to this event." He added at a press conference held at the Democratic Party headquarters that day, "I personally confirmed regarding the 'president's lantern.'"

Lee Jae-myung's side also reacted strongly, calling it "absurd." Cha Moon-young, policy advisor to Chungbuk Province, visited the press room that day and said, "Lee did not attend the event, and we do not know about the lantern. We did not provide a single won to support the event." He added, "We did not request to hang the lantern, and we do not know why it was hung. It is highly likely that it was hung arbitrarily."

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