Vulgar pic on campaign trail gets guy in hot water

A man changes his pose after sticking out his tongue at Yoo Dam, daughter of Bareun Party nominee Yoo Seong-min, near Hongik University in western Seoul on Thursday. [SCREEN CAPTURE FROM YOUTUBE]

A 30-year-old man accused of taking a vulgar picture with Yoo Dam, daughter of Bareun Party candidate Yoo Seong-min, was brought into a police station for questioning Friday after photos of the incident went viral online.

The man, who was identified by the surname Lee, was taken to the Seoul Mapo District police precinct and questioned.

Yoo, who has become an overnight celebrity during the campaign because of her good looks, was campaigning for her father Thursday near Hongik University in Seoul. People lined up to have their photos taken with her and Lee was one of them. When it was his turn, he put his arm around Yoo’s neck and extended his tongue as if he was about to lick Yoo’s face.

Security guards were present but did nothing to suppress Lee. Bareun Party officials told him he should not make the vulgar gesture, according to a video clip posted on YouTube. Lee complied and proceeded to take another photo of Yoo. He walked away undisturbed.

Lee is also accused of posting a picture of his vulgar gesture online. Pictures and the video clip of the incident became a viral sensation, leading to calls for his arrest for assault.

Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the Bareun Party, a Yoo campaign aide, said on Facebook that the suspect is a member of the far-right online site Ilbe, which is notorious for homophobic and misogynistic content.

BY KANG JIN-KYU [kang.jinkyu@joongang.co.kr]