Family risks shake up presidential election race

Dec 17, 2021, 09:13 am

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Lee Jae-myung, presidential nominee of the ruling Democratic Party, apologizes for his son’s gambling allegations at his campaign event held on Dec. 16, 2021./ Photographed by Jung Jae-hoon

AsiaToday reporter Lee Wook-jae

Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), admitted that his 29-year-old son had engaged in illegal gambling and offered an apology Thursday.

“My son appears to have yielded to temptation for a certain period of time. As a parent, I am responsible for the deficiency in my child’s education,” Lee Jae-myung said in a press release.

It has been confirmed that Lee’s son, Lee Dong-ho, wrote more than a hundred postings on an online poker game community from early 2019 to mid-2020, including those about his visits to gambling places around Seoul.

Lee said his son regrets his past actions, saying, “My son is very distressed about himself. I told him that being properly responsible is a way to alleviate the suffering.”

“To those who must have been disappointed by my son’s foolish behavior, my son and I apologize with a deep bow,” Lee said. “I vow to never let a similar incident occur again. I will have my son receive treatment.”

Lee Dong-ho also issued an apology through the Democratic Party Election Committee. “I will take this incident as an opportunity to reflect and atone over my misdeeds, while assuming all responsibilities,” he said. “Once again, I bow my head and extend my apology.”

Regarding the possibility of punishment for Lee Dong-ho, the election committee said, “Republic of Korea is a law-governed country and he should take responsibility for the legal process.”

The DP presidential candidate’s immediate apology appears to be aimed at resolving the controversy immediately while also highlighting the image of a presidential candidate that is even resolute to his family. He also seems to be intended to compare himself with his rival Yoon Seok-youl, the presidential candidate of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who has not apologized for the controversy surrounding his wife Kim Keon-hee.

Yoon has been swept in fierce criticism over his wife allegedly falsifying her credentials when applying for a teaching job in 2007. The PPP tried to turn around the situation by taking issue with Lee’s son’s gambling controversy.

The PPP depreciated Lee’s apology. “Lee has simply apologized that his son fell into temptation of a gaming site for a brief period,” said Lee Yang-soo, senior spokesperson for the PPP’s election committee.

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