Chung Bong-ju

Chung Bong-ju (, born 2 July 1960) is a South Korean politician and the former Member of the National Assembly for Nowon 1st constituency from 2004 to 2008.

Chung is widely known as a "sniper" against the former President Lee Myung-bak, for harshly criticising him regarding the controversies. Due to this, he was charged for slandering and jailed for a year in 2011. He returned to politics after pardoned by the new President Moon Jae-in in December 2017. One of his cousin is currently in North Korea, whom he met in Mount Kumgang in 2009.

He married Song Ji-young. Both has a son and a daughter. but was suspended from the institution for organising a demonstration in 1983. As he was jailed for 1.5 years, he was only able to complete his university life in 1985.

Career Following the graduation, Chung briefly worked at Monthly Mal, the magazine of the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media. When the party was re-founded as the United New Democratic Party, he joined the party but at the presidential preselection, Sohn lost to Chung Dong-young.

"Sniper" against Lee Myung-bak During the presidential election in 2007, Chung criticised Lee Myung-bak, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Grand National Party (now United Future Party) who was later elected, bringing up controversies, mainly BBK stock price manipulation incident. This gave him a nickname "Sniper against Lee Myung-bak" or "Sniper against BBK" . Following the election, the GNP finally took actions against him for slandering, in which he was sentenced for a year of imprisonment. He appealed for 2 times, but on 22 December 2011, the Supreme Court confirmed 1-year imprisonment for him. As he was jailed, he was banned from politics for 10 years from the time of the final sentence. At that time, he was preparing to run for 2012 election. shortly after the presidential election. Despite consecutive defeats for the Democratic Unionist Party at the general and presidential elections, he urged his supporters to not be frustrated.

On 7 February 2018, Chung announced to join the Democratic Party to launch his bid for Seoul mayorship at the upcoming local elections. The source also reported that he had set up an office in Yeouido to prepare for his plan. but on that day, he postponed it following a report of Pressian that he molested a female university student. On 19 March, his request to join the Democratic Party was officially rejected. 9 days later, he officially withdrew his bid and declared to retire from politics.

On the other hand, on 6 December 2019, Yonhap News reported that the Democratic Party had already approved his application request on 28 November. Regarding the party's controversial "secret" decision, Chung mentioned that it was in order to not burden the party. He soon launched his bid to run for Seoul Gangseo 1st constituency for 2020 election but was disqualified by the party due to controversies.

On 28 February 2020, Chung announced he would form a new party named Open Democratic Party. He denounced the current Democratic Party as "not the real Democrats" for adopting conservative approaches and not properly reacting against the oppositions. According to her, both of them met at his speech on 1 November when she approached him to take a photo together. He harshly denounced the woman for "writing a perfect novel" Soon after, Pressian wrote the refutation articles.

On 12 March 2018, Chung castigated the Pressian's article as a "lie" and the next day, he filed a lawsuit against journalists who reported the case. However, after a fortnight, he dropped the charge following the report that he purchased using his own card at Lexington Hotel on 23 December 2011. The next day, he announced his retirement from politics. although he was acquitted at the first trial on 25 October 2019.

Election results General elections Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks 2004 17th National Assembly General Election Nowon A (Seoul) Uri 36,992 (42.70%) Won 2008 18th National Assembly General Election Nowon A (Seoul) UDP 26,251 (37.62%) Defeated

Local elections Seoul Metropolitan Council Year Elections Constituency Political party Votes (%) Remarks 1991 1991 Iocal Election Seoul Nowon 3rd NDUP 4,769 (39.03%) Defeated