Reform Party interim leader apologizes for member who faked his own attack

The acting leader of the splinter conservative Reform Party took to the streets of Busan on Wednesday to apologize for the so-called self-staged terror attack by a former party member, Jeong Yi-han. Jeong allegedly faked an assault on himself to gain name recognition during the June 3 local election campaign, when he was the party's candidate for Busan mayor.

"The Reform Party should have vetted its candidate for Busan mayor far more thoroughly and carefully, and it did not," Reform Party leader Chun Ha-ram said near Guseo Station in Geumjeong District, Busan.

The corner where Chun stood is where Jeong is accused of staging the attack in April.

"We ended up nominating a candidate who did something that should never be done, a staged attack."

"I came here to apologize to the people of Busan in person, late as it is," Chun said. "It is an appalling business, but I thought it was only right to come to the place where a wrong that serious was committed and apologize to the people of Busan."

Jeong said he was hit by a drink thrown from a passing car while campaigning in Geumjeong District on April 27. His campaign said he fell while trying to dodge it, lost consciousness and was treated at a hospital for a concussion and a muscle contusion.

Prosecutors say the incident was staged with an acquaintance of Jeong's, a fitness trainer. Jeong was indicted under detention on charges including violating the Public Official Election Act and obstructing official duties by fraudulent means. He has since left the party.

Chun, the party's floor leader in the National Assembly, has run the Reform Party since Lee Jun-seok resigned as leader on Aug. 26, after the party was routed in the local elections. Chun apologized for both the defeat and the Jeong case on Monday, at his first press conference since taking over, and said he would travel to Busan in person.

Jeong and the trainer go on trial on Sept. 15.

BY PARK JONG-SUH [[email protected]]