South Korea’s next president? Meet Heo Kyung-young, the ‘levitating’ mystic who claims an IQ of 430 and is offering voters US$85,000

Heo Kyung-young not only claims to be able to levitate and work miracles, he’s hoping to be elected the next president of South Korea

His eye-popping claims have made him the subject of ridicule, but his more down-to-earth targeting of corrupt politicians and the infamous Suneung college entrance exam have fans calling him a saviour of the working class

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Heo Kyung-young claims the ability to levitate. Photo: Handout

Published: 2:45pm, 3 Oct 2021Updated: 10:32pm, 7 Oct 2021

With his claims of supernatural powers and an IQ of 430, abnormally white skin and a perfectly coiffured hairdo that belies his 71 years, Heo Kyung-young is a natural target for internet memes.

Some of the most popular show him levitating (one of his self-claimed abilities), showing off his flexibility with a high kick, smiling alongside Donald Trump, and imploring observers to “look into my eyes”.

Remarkable though Heo’s self-professed talents are – in addition to floating, he also claims to be able to heal people and transfer energy just by making eye contact – they are not his only claim to fame. Heo is also running to be the next president of South Korea.

The 2022 presidential election, expected to be held in March, will be Heo’s third shot at the top job. Previous attempts have ended in ignominy. He served an 18-month prison term for making false claims during his run for office in 2007, having told his supporters that he would marry his then-fellow candidate (and now disgraced former president) Park Geun-hye.

Still, this time around, Heo thinks he’s onto a winner with his key pledge: to hand out 100 million won (US$85,000) to every citizen above the age of 18 along with a 1.5 million won (US$1,270) monthly bonus.

He made the promise while announcing his election bid at an event on August 18 at the Haengju Mountain Fortress in the city of Goyang, the site of a clash with the Japanese military in 1593.

With characteristic flamboyance, Heo arrived at the event riding a white horse and in wartime armour paying homage to the Admiral Yi Sun-sin – famed for beating the mighty Japanese navy in the 1500s – promising his adoring fans that he would bring “revolution” to the country.