'Mukbang and golf during every national disaster'

'Dereliction of duty in emergencies must be investigated'

People Power Party lawmaker Ju Jin-woo holds a press conference at the National Assembly's media room on Sunday, claiming that President Lee Jae Myung played golf at Taereung Country Club during the ceiling collapse in Daegu on Saturday. [Yonhap]
People Power Party lawmaker Ju Jin-woo holds a press conference at the National Assembly's media room on Sunday, claiming that President Lee Jae Myung played golf at Taereung Country Club during the ceiling collapse in Daegu on Saturday. [Yonhap]

People Power Party lawmaker Ju Jin-woo said Tuesday he would introduce what he called the "Lee Jae Myung emperor golf special prosecutor bill," citing allegations that President Lee Jae Myung played golf during major accidents and disasters.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly, Ju said the president's conduct had gone too far. "Every time a national tragedy strikes, he is doing mukbang — an entertainment eating broadcast — playing emperor golf and showing utter disregard for the public," he said.

Ju said he had received tip-offs that Lee was playing golf during the Oct. 10 ceiling collapse at a commercial building in Daegu, and that the president had issued a "nonsensical" order to rescue victims even though the rescue operation had already concluded. He added that he had also received information that Lee played golf during a Navy soldier's disappearance last July and during the response to the Seosomun overpass collapse in May.

Ju said a special prosecutor should determine whether Lee was in fact golfing during emergencies that required urgent crisis response, and whether that constituted dereliction of duty. He also called for an investigation into whether the president's family received preferential treatment in using club facilities, and whether special activity funds were spent in the process.

Ju also rebuffed the Democratic Party of Korea's criticism of a comment he left on Facebook on Monday, in which he wrote "time to cut off Lee Jae Myung" — a phrase the Democratic Party condemned as abusive language. "Why is a comment considered a terrorist threat or abusive language?" he said. "If they try to silence me, I will play a compilation of abusive remarks made by Lee Jae Myung and his wife at a press conference."

Ju also announced legal action against Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, accusing him of raising unfounded allegations about a gift transfer involving Ju's son. "Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said on a morning broadcast today that the process by which my son received a gift from his grandfather was not transparent," Ju said, adding that he would file a criminal complaint against Kim on charges of making false statements of fact.


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