Lee Nak-yeon "Please don't hate me"... Hwang Kyo-ahn "I hate you. It's a complete failure"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Lee Nak-yeon, Chair of the COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Committee and candidate for the Jongno district in Seoul, said on the 4th about Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, "First of all, even if I think differently from Leader Hwang, I will not hate him."

On the morning of the same day during a campaign in the Jongno district, he reportedly said, "Please do not hate Leader Hwang too much. And (supporters of Leader Hwang) please do not hate me, Lee Nak-yeon. We are in a position where we must cooperate to save the country."

Lee said, "If even a little hatred toward (Leader Hwang) arises in my heart, I will firmly keep my mouth shut and endure it," adding, "So when we cross this river of crisis, I will make sure that not a single citizen is left behind and that we cross together."

This is interpreted as emphasizing bipartisan cooperation to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. Lee stated, "The valley of crisis caused by COVID-19 is still wide open before us. We must cross this valley," and added, "We must trust the great people and hold hands so that no citizen is left behind while crossing the river of crisis and the valley of suffering before us. We must understand each other and not hate."

Leader Hwang said on Facebook that day, "Everything is the problem of an incompetent regime. Those blinded by power are failing in their duties, and that is why we are witnessing this harsh situation," adding, "I hate them. Haven't they destroyed the pride of my father and mother? Haven't they brought curses upon me?" However, he later deleted this post.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the post was changed to private to supplement the grounds for criticizing the government's economic mismanagement, and the expression "hate" was explained by Leader Hwang's camp as directed not at specific individuals but at the autocracy and incompetence of the current regime.

During his campaign that day, Leader Hwang said, "This country, which was living well just 2 to 3 years ago, has completely collapsed. It is a total crisis," and added, "It is abnormal for the people to have to protect the economy and security of the Republic of Korea. We must judge this abnormal regime."