Lee Jae-myung: "My wife has become a cruel target... Even gangsters don't touch family"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, said on the 22nd, "There is a saying that even gangsters don't touch family, but my wife is constantly being cruelly targeted."

On the same day, Lee appeared on the progressive YouTube channel 'Kim Yong-min TV' and regarding the suspicions about the Twitter account targeting his wife Kim Hye-kyung, he stated, "It was a witch hunt. I wish they would observe some limits."

During the 2018 Gyeonggi Governor election, suspicions arose that the owner of the Twitter account 'Hyekyunggung Kimssi,' which defamed President Moon Jae-in and others, was Kim Hye-kyung. The prosecution, after investigation, had cleared her of charges.

Lee said, "My wife was deeply hurt. I am truly sorry," adding, "The negative attacks are even harsher from within our own ranks rather than from the opposing camp. It feels disheartening and devastating."

Regarding the ruling party's discussions on media reform, Lee pointed out, "Besides the legislative, judicial, and executive branches, the media is called the fourth estate. If freedom of the press creates fake news that clouds the judgment of the sovereign people, it destroys democracy and is like poison."

He emphasized, "For deliberately proven fake and distorted news, a punitive damages system should be introduced so that the company (media outlet) could even go bankrupt."

As for prosecutorial reform tasks, Lee mentioned the separation of investigation and prosecution, principle of prosecution by law, prosecution jury system, and fee caps, arguing, "In the long term, the chief prosecutor should be elected directly. The problem arises because political power appoints them."