Capture of Kim Hye-ran‘s Facebook post, spokesperson for the People Power Party
Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the People Power Party, urged people to be careful about their words and actions in relation to the party spokesperson who referred to her husband as ‘brother with a big belly’ on Facebook.
At a press conference on the 20th, floor leader Choo said, “Regardless of whether they are in or outside the National Assembly, the personnel of our party must be particularly careful in their words and actions because they are considered to be people carrying out public affairs as they are in responsible positions.” “There are many concerns among the public about this,” he pointed out.
Previously, party spokesperson Kim Hye-ran posted a post on Facebook commemorating her 20th wedding anniversary on the 18th. In this post, she referred to her husband as ‘oppa’ and wrote in parentheses, ‘At this time, my brother has been rolling around in our house for 20 years. ‘Oppa who came out,’ he wrote.
Regarding this, some in the party raised suspicions that it was an expression mocking First Lady Kim Kun-hee. The question is whether Spokesperson Kim’s reference to her husband as ‘brother’ was intended to be reminiscent of the controversy over Ms. Kim’s ‘brother’.
Earlier, in a KakaoTalk conversation with Myung Tae-gyun, who was identified as a key figure in the suspicion of ‘interference in nominations’, Mrs. Kim said, “Please forgive my brother for talking immaturely. That’s just the way it is when you’re ignorant. “What does he know?” he said.
Regarding this, the President’s Office and Mr. Myung explained that it was referring to Mrs. Kim’s biological brother, but the opposition party continues to raise suspicions, saying that the ‘brother’ is President Yoon Seok-yeol.
A screenshot of the KakaoTalk conversation between Myung Tae-gyun (left) and First Lady Kim Kun-hee. Myung Tae-gyun’s Facebook
As the repercussions grew, Spokesperson Kim posted an additional message on the 19th, saying, “The ‘paunchy brother who has been lying around in our house for 20 years’ is, of course, my husband. There are a lot of people who keep asking angrily who my oppa is in the comments, but are they really asking because they don’t know? “Is there room for my writing to be interpreted differently than my husband’s?” he asked.
Spokesperson Kim continued, “There are many people who are angry and ask why I call my husband oppa, but I have been calling my husband that way my whole life and I haven’t been able to change it until this age. “It is not something that should be criticized like this by anyone,” he emphasized.
At the same time, he complained, “They say that the title ‘oppa’ that I wrote in the article refers to ‘my husband,’ but I am receiving a lot of abusive text messages from beginning to end, asking, ‘Are you mocking the first lady?’”
Afterwards, Spokesperson Kim deleted the sentence, ‘At this time, my older brother is the one with the big belly who has been rolling around in our house for 20 years’ from the post posted the previous day.
Yeo Myeong, an aide in the office of People Power Party lawmaker Kang Seung-gyu of the pro-Yoon Seok-yeol faction, criticized Spokesperson Kim’s post, saying, “I thought it was a typical Democratic Party’s relay verification post of ‘first lady turning around.’”
Aide Yeo said, “The absurdity of the ‘People Power Spokesperson’ posting such a post in such a critical time makes me feel sad beyond laughter.”
Another pro-Yoon group member, Kang Myeong-gu, was reported to have expressed indignation in the People Power Party member group chat room, saying, “Spokesperson Kim’s post is clearly intentional ridicule,” and “They are refusing to apologize and saying they will report in a hostile manner.”
In a post posted in the chat room, Representative Kang said, “This is extremely inappropriate behavior at a time when the president and the party leader are about to have an important meeting,” and pointed out, “If you are going to take legal action without apologizing, you should step down as spokesperson.”
Several other lawmakers are said to have expressed sympathy, saying, “An expression not even an opposition party spokesperson would use,” and “Disciplinary action is necessary for this act.”
Rep. Yoo Young-ha said on Facebook, “No matter what excuse he makes, unless the public is stupid, they won’t know the hidden meaning between the lines.” He urged self-reflection.
Representative Choo said, “The only people who would be happy about such words and actions that could easily cause conflict and division within the party are the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party. “It’s something that only they like and applaud,” he emphasized.
On the 20th, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference on the audit of government affairs and pending issues at the National Assembly. 2024.10.20. Reporter Ahn Joo-young
However, the position of the pro-Han Dong-hoon community is that it is not an issue that can be formally raised.
According to Yonhap News, a close-knit party official said in a phone call, “Nothing has happened so far when criticizing the party leader,” and added, “It is not a matter of responding separately or putting the party at a disadvantage.”
Spokesperson Kim, a former judge, ran for office in Chuncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, and Yanggugap in Gangwon Province in the general election last April, but was defeated. Hwang Woo-yeo was appointed party spokesperson in May during the Emergency Response Committee.
Reporter Shin Jin-ho
