Indictment reveals Jeong I-han directed accomplice to throw green-tea latte in staged attack

Court documents show that Jeong I-han, the former Reform Party candidate for Busan mayor who was indicted on charges of staging a fake beverage attack during the June 3 local elections, gave his accomplice detailed instructions on what to throw, when to act and what to say.

According to the indictment and SBS, Jeong had confided on multiple occasions since early April to a fitness trainer in his 30s, identified only as A, about his struggle to overcome low name recognition.

Jeong told A at the time that if someone collapsed during a campaign event he would perform CPR, and that he wished someone would hit him with a flowerpot or throw coffee at him. A reportedly responded, "Should I throw something at you?"

Jeong then decided to go through with the scheme and gave A specific instructions on April 25 and 26.

He asked A to throw a latte at him while he was out campaigning, saying, "There's something I need your help with. It has to happen by the 27th, no matter what."

He was particularly specific about the drink, saying, "Water won't leave a stain — throw something that leaves a color, like a green-tea latte." He also asked A to shout at him as he threw it: "What does a young punk like you know about being mayor?"

The plan called for A to prepare a colored green-tea latte to leave a visible stain on Jeong's clothing, splash the drink while pretending to hand over a business card, use someone else's vehicle to conceal his identity and wear a hat.

Jeong also told A, "Even if you get caught, I'll make sure the case wraps up quickly with leniency — and if the police arrest you, I'll take full responsibility."

A reportedly accepted the offer, saying, "At worst, it'd probably just be assault charges."

The two carried out the staged attack on the morning of April 27 at an interchange in Geumjeong-gu, Busan. Afterward, they acted as if they did not know each other in order to make police believe it was a random act of violence.

Following the incident, Jeong's spouse — fully aware of what had actually happened — submitted a letter to police asking for leniency toward A, and then arranged for that fact to be reported in the media, the indictment shows.

Meanwhile, the first hearing for Jeong and A is scheduled at Busan District Court on Sept. 15.