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The solitary campaign of Rep. Kang Yong-seok against Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon with allegations of impropriety in having his son exempted from military conscription seems to be paying off. Park has agreed to open his son’s spinal image to the public.
Rep. Kang has volunteered a “sniper’s role” against leading liberal figures, including Seoul Education Superintendent Kwak No-hyun and Mayor Park. The sons of both Park and Kwak were disqualified from active duty because of their physical conditions.
People still tend to measure the patriotism of politicians with their military service records, as well as their children’s. During the election last year, Park faced offensives from opponents over the fact that he was exempted from conscription after being adopted by a childless relative. And now Rep. Kang is chasing the mayor’s son with the allegation that the young man evaded military duty by faking a spinal disorder.
Last week, the lawmaker produced what he claims to be MRI images with which Park’s son, Ju-sin, obtained a disqualification decision from the Military Manpower Administration late last year. The picture showed severely herniated discs but it also revealed a high level of obesity, while Park Ju-sin is tall and slender. A famous doctor at the Severance Hospital expressed doubt that the MRI image was Park Ju-sin’s and a large number of Internet users flooded the home pages of City Hall, the MMA and the Board of Audit and Inspection with calls for an investigation.
The mayor’s son formally asked the MMA to open his MRI pictures to the public. However, even with the disclosure, doubters can still question the authenticity of the high-tech medical image. Netizens are calling on Park Ju-sin to take another MRI picture in public to prove no foul play. Just for being the son of a prominent political figure, the young man is presumed guilty until proven innocent.
Everyone is the victim of mounting social distrust, which is fertilized by politics. There will be many more Park Ju-sins brought into the court of the populace in this election year.
Rep. Kang has volunteered a “sniper’s role” against leading liberal figures, including Seoul Education Superintendent Kwak No-hyun and Mayor Park. The sons of both Park and Kwak were disqualified from active duty because of their physical conditions.
People still tend to measure the patriotism of politicians with their military service records, as well as their children’s. During the election last year, Park faced offensives from opponents over the fact that he was exempted from conscription after being adopted by a childless relative. And now Rep. Kang is chasing the mayor’s son with the allegation that the young man evaded military duty by faking a spinal disorder.
Last week, the lawmaker produced what he claims to be MRI images with which Park’s son, Ju-sin, obtained a disqualification decision from the Military Manpower Administration late last year. The picture showed severely herniated discs but it also revealed a high level of obesity, while Park Ju-sin is tall and slender. A famous doctor at the Severance Hospital expressed doubt that the MRI image was Park Ju-sin’s and a large number of Internet users flooded the home pages of City Hall, the MMA and the Board of Audit and Inspection with calls for an investigation.
The mayor’s son formally asked the MMA to open his MRI pictures to the public. However, even with the disclosure, doubters can still question the authenticity of the high-tech medical image. Netizens are calling on Park Ju-sin to take another MRI picture in public to prove no foul play. Just for being the son of a prominent political figure, the young man is presumed guilty until proven innocent.
Everyone is the victim of mounting social distrust, which is fertilized by politics. There will be many more Park Ju-sins brought into the court of the populace in this election year.
