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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Democratic Party candidate claims she was pushed at rally

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Choi Min-hee, a candidate for the Democratic Party's Supreme Council, was pushed and fell while entering the venue for a joint rally in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.
  • She stated that a supporter of another candidate pushed her, and demanded an investigation, citing CCTV footage.
  • The incident occurred before the party's national convention on August 17 to elect its leader and five Supreme Council members.

A candidate for the Democratic Party's Supreme Council, Choi Min-hee, was reportedly pushed and fell while entering a joint rally venue in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on August 16. The incident occurred as she was preparing to present her platform.

I did not contract mad cow disease. CCTV confirmed it. Someone pushed me hard, causing me to fall. Why isn't the truth being confirmed?

— Choi Min-heeAddressing the election committee chairman after falling at the rally venue.

Lee Jung-heon, the event's moderator, announced Choi's fall, stating she was having difficulty moving and that her ability to deliver her speech was being assessed. He expressed hope that she was not seriously injured.

Upon reaching the stage, Choi addressed the situation directly, telling the election committee chairman, "I did not contract mad cow disease. CCTV confirmed it. Someone pushed me hard, causing me to fall. Why isn't the truth being confirmed?" She added, "No matter how competitive it gets, how can one candidate push another? Let's not do that."

No matter how competitive it gets, how can one candidate push another? Let's not do that.

— Choi Min-heeAdding her thoughts after addressing the election committee chairman.

Later, Choi posted on Facebook that a middle-aged man, identified as a supporter of another candidate, pushed her, causing her to fall and experience pain in her left ribs. She vowed to endure the discomfort. Another Supreme Council candidate, Park Gyu-hwan, also posted on Facebook, criticizing the election committee for initially downplaying the incident as a personal accident. He urged the committee to inform party members about the "assault" on Choi and launch an immediate investigation.

A middle-aged man, a supporter of another candidate, pushed me, causing me to fall. My left ribs are aching. I will endure and persevere.

— Choi Min-heeDescribing the incident on her Facebook page.

The Democratic Party is scheduled to hold its third national convention on August 17 in Daejeon to elect its leader and five Supreme Council members, with results expected around 6 p.m.

The election committee did not inform us that someone pushed Choi, making it seem like she fell by accident. This led to Choi strongly protesting to Chairman So. The election committee should inform party members about the assault on Choi and start an investigation immediately.

— Park Gyu-hwanCommenting on the incident on his Facebook page.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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