Lee Jun-seok "Will Listen to Expert Opinions and Announce Position"
Lee Jae-myung "No Change from People Power Party's Old Image... Elite Privilege"
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the first Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 15th, Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, criticized Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, who expressed a reserved stance on installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) in operating rooms, saying, "There is no difference from the existing image of the People Power Party, which has represented the elite vested interests." In response, Lee Jun-seok retorted, "How long will the Democratic Party of Korea continue to incite good and evil to engage in public opinion poll politics?"
On the same day, Lee Jun-seok wrote on his Facebook, "Just as it is a foolish attack to say 'Then do you support terrorism?' to the Democratic Party, which opposed the Anti-Terrorism Act, it is a caricature of politics to respond to the cautious stance on the operating room CCTV issue by saying 'Are you condoning illegal medical practices or sexual harassment?'"
He also said, "Many people wish the Min-sik Law had been legislated more cautiously." The Min-sik Law, which imposes heavier penalties for traffic accidents occurring in school zones, was passed by the National Assembly just two months after its proposal in October 2019. However, after its implementation, there was controversy over excessive punishment of drivers.
Lee Jun-seok said, "The vested interests are the side holding 180 seats, and the side that wielded that vested power and caused all the problems, including real estate, is the Democratic Party," he sharply criticized.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Democratic Party of Korea's provincial governors meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 10th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Earlier, on the 14th, Lee Jun-seok appeared on KBS Radio's 'Oh Tae-hoon's Current Affairs Headquarters' and said, "I agree that the purpose of installing CCTV in operating rooms is to reduce medical accidents and uncover the truth," but added, "If operating room CCTV becomes widespread, doctors may become very passive in medical practice. Therefore, I will listen to more expert opinions and then take a position."
In response, Governor Lee criticized on his Facebook, "This is a disappointing answer far from the expectations of citizens who hoped for 'politics that gets things done' with Lee's election."
He said, "This is a bill that over 80% of the people overwhelmingly agree with and has undergone a long period of discussion," adding, "While some in the medical community say 'let's leave it to the autonomy of medical staff,' medical acts in the operating room are matters where a single accident can determine the life of a citizen. The public demands the state's role to prevent that one accident."
He continued, "It is also hard to understand the claim that installing CCTV in operating rooms will make medical practice passive," pointing out, "The remark from an online community post, 'Do you drive passively because there is a black box in the car?' reflects the public's view."
Governor Lee also emphasized, "Just as CCTV in daycare centers does not cause passive childcare, operating room CCTV will rather increase public trust in the majority of medical staff who are conscientious and do not commit illegal acts, and protect the public from a small number of illegal medical practices or sexual harassment."
Furthermore, he said, "Any policy inevitably faces resistance and backlash from those accustomed to existing systems," but criticized, "If we give up because of strong opposition, nothing will change. The public will continue to suffer from ineffective politics."
Finally, Governor Lee concluded his post by saying, "I hope that through conservative innovation, our politics will respond to the public's expectation for a 'competition to do well.'"
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