Citizens' Group Threatens To Disclose Candidate's Unsavory Past

The Fair Election Practice Citizens' Movement Council, co-chairmaned by Sohn Bong-ho, issued a press release on March 28. In the statement, the council asserted that it has been informed that a candidate, running for the April 13 general election, has two sons with a woman who is not his wife.

In the press release, the council added, "This candidate has maintained this relationship with the woman since his days as a public servant. On March 11, three residents of Kangnam, Seoul, informed us that the woman in question lives in an expensive condominium."

Doh Hee-yoon, the council's secretary general, said, "After examining the case in our subcommittee for privacy issues, we asked the candidate in question to submit documents and explain his position before March 21, but he did not send any documents or an explanation."

Regarding this, the candidate said, "When I was asked to explain by the council, I told them that it was an unfounded accusation. The council ignored this and put out a press release. I am thinking of taking legal actions, such as suing them for defamation."

The council was going to make public the contents of the scandal and the council's stance on its Internet homepage, but suspended this decision. An official said, "The candidate belatedly informed us of his stance and that he will send us explanatory documents. We will then decide whether to put the facts on the Internet after we receive these documents."

by Kim Sung-tak