South Korean presidential candidate sorry for misogynistic remark at TV debate

A South Korean presidential candidate has apologised for a sexually explicit comment made during a recent televised debate, in which he asked if sticking chopsticks in women’s genitals was misogyny.

Lee Jun-seok, who leads the minor Reform Party, drew widespread backlash from the public and across the political spectrum for the controversial remark on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old initially doubled down on his remark on Facebook early on Wednesday, before issuing an apology later in the day while speaking to reporters after a campaign stop in Seoul.

“I was aware that some members of the public might have found it uncomfortable, and I sincerely apologise to them,” Lee said, according to Korea JoongAng Daily.

During the final round of Tuesday night’s live debate, Lee had posed a question to Kwon Young-kook – presidential candidate for the Korean Democratic Labour Party – asking, “If someone says they want to stick chopsticks into a woman’s genitals or some place like that, is that misogyny?”