Ruling party chairman egged by woman protesting new theme park project in Chuncheon

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Nak-yon flinches after getting hit by an egg in his face while visiting a marketplace in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, March 5. Yonhap

By Ko Dong-hwan

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Nak-yon's visit to a traditional marketplace in Chuncheon, Friday, turned ugly after a woman egged his face in protest of a new land development project in the city.

The woman in her 50s, whose name was withheld, threw three eggs at Lee, one of which hit his right cheek while another landed on a supporter.

She was a member of an activist group calling for protecting the heritage of rocky sites and ancient artifacts found on Joong Island on the Bukhan River running through the Gangwon Province city.

According to Yonhap News Agency, she condemned Lee for "approving the construction of Lego Land in the city thereby putting the heritage site at risk of being destroyed."

The woman arrived at the marketplace after staging a one-person protest in the Myeong-dong area of the city against the theme park project.

A DPK member at the scene whose constituency is in the province, cited by No Cut News, said the woman wrongfully targeted Lee since he had "neither ordered nor directed the project."

After cleaning up, Lee continued his visit among the market vendors.

Police who arrived at the scene later didn't apprehend the woman as Lee has already left, and the other person hit by an egg didn't seek to file a criminal complaint. Lee later ordered an aide to "look into the matter."

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