So Su-jin: "Lee Hae-chan's rude remarks, people don't change easily... Apologize directly"

Assemblyman Cho Shares Anecdotes of Coldness and Violence from Leader Lee Toward the Press
"Hung up the phone and slapped a reporter for asking unexpected questions"

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is answering reporters' questions after paying his respects at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the late Mayor Park Won-soon's funeral was held on the morning of the 10th. In response to reporters' question, "There are allegations against the deceased. Will the party respond at the party level?" Lee said, "That is not respectful. Do you consider that respectful in this situation?" and reprimanded them. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] On the 12th, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who had just finished paying respects at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the late Mayor Park Won-soon’s wake was held, expressed displeasure at reporters' questions. In response, Jo Su-jin, a member of the United Future Party, said, "People do not change easily. Apologize directly."

On the 12th, Jo posted on her Facebook, stating, "The reason Lee leader cursed at the reporter just because the reporter asked about the party’s response to the situation can only be seen as a complacent view of the current crisis."

Jo said, "No one could have imagined that Mayor Park, the first three-term mayor of Seoul and one of the ruling party’s presidential candidates, would end his life by an extreme choice. Park was regarded as a symbol of human rights lawyers, having led the first domestic sexual harassment case, the 'Seoul National University Woo assistant case,' to a victory."

She added, "Therefore, the sexual harassment accusation against him inevitably caused a huge shock. With Mayor Park’s extreme choice, the ruling party has lost three metropolitan mayors due to 'power-related sexual crimes,' including former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung." She continued, "Amid the daily surfacing sexual controversies involving ruling party figures, the mocking term 'Democratic #MeToo Party' is rising, and thus fundamental party-level responses naturally must be highlighted."

She went on, "Seeing Lee leader curse at a reporter just for asking uncomfortable questions makes me think anew that 'people really don’t change easily.' Lee is the leader of the ruling party that produced Mayor Park and the funeral committee chairman, yet he has not made any remarks regarding the allegations against Mayor Park. Such an attitude can lead to secondary harm to the victims, which is why the reporter asked more insistently about the party’s response," she analyzed.

Jo, who is a former journalist, said, "Lee leader’s cold treatment and verbal abuse toward our media has a long history," and introduced anecdotes of Lee’s 'harsh words' directed at the press.

Jo stated, "There is even an anecdote where he slapped a reporter’s cheek just for asking an uncomfortable question." She added, "In 2012, when he was the opposition leader, during a live YTN broadcast conducted over the phone, he suddenly hung up because a question not in the script was asked, and then arrogantly demanded an apology from the producer in charge. This attitude is still talked about today."

She continued, "As Lee leader’s curse scandal spread like wildfire, the Democratic Party’s chief spokesperson reportedly called the media outlet of the reporter to convey a 'proxy apology.' We cannot help but ask whether Lee’s curse was made not as an individual named 'Lee Hae-chan,' but on behalf of the entire ruling party." She pointed out, "If Lee’s curse does not represent the whole ruling party, then Lee himself must step forward to apologize and explain."

Earlier, on the 10th, after paying respects at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital where Mayor Park’s wake was held, Lee caused controversy by saying to reporters who asked about the party’s plan regarding the (sexual harassment) allegations, "Do you consider such a question polite here? At least have some discretion. You son of a b****."

Following the controversy, Kang Hoon-sik, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party, reportedly called the reporter’s media outlet to express an apology.