The son of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung was fined 5 million Korean won for posting sexually explicit comments about K-pop star Karina from aespa, according to court records that surfaced this week.
Lee's eldest son repeatedly posted degrading remarks about the 25-year-old singer on online poker communities between October and December 2021, using the username "LeaveItOverTheRiver." Under one photo of Karina, posted in December of that year, Lee's son wrote, "I seriously just want to eat her once."
Other comments also included phrases like "She looks so damn tasty" and "I want to hold her," per a report from Minsimnews, citing court records.
The Suwon District Court issued the fine on October 31, 2024, for violations of the Information and Communications Network Act regarding obscene content display and habitual gambling. The penalty became final when Lee's son chose not to appeal the ruling. The fine was reportedly received not by Lee's son directly but by his mother, Kim Hye Kyung, adding to the public backlash.
The case first came to public attention after the YouTube channel Garo Sero Research Institute filed criminal complaints in December 2021. The channel discovered the explicit posts during investigations into the younger Lee's gambling activities on poker websites.
Read more: aespa's Karina Faces Backlash Over Instagram Post Amid Election Season; SM Entertainment Responds
Beyond targeting Karina, Lee's son made similar sexually degrading comments about other women, including DJ Soda. On October 19, 2021, he posted comments under DJ Soda's photos saying "Please just let me touch her butt once" and "She's probably thinking she wants to be touched, right?"
The revelations have intensified political controversy surrounding Lee Jae Myung's presidential campaign, which is scheduled for June 3. Conservative rival Kim Moon-soo seized on the scandal, posting on Facebook that Lee Jae Myung leads a "criminal family". Kim's spokesperson criticized Lee's silence despite advocating for women's rights.
Lee Jae Myung previously apologized for his son's behavior during his 2021 presidential campaign, acknowledging the gambling allegations and promising his son would receive treatment. The politician stated he would take responsibility as a father for his son's actions.
This scandal emerges as Lee Jae Myung maintains a significant lead in polls ahead of the presidential election, though the race has tightened in recent weeks.
