Kim Hong-gul and Myung Gye-nam Defend Lee Jae-myung: "Stop the Ruinous Regionalism Frame"

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Kim Hong-gul, the third son of the late President Kim Dae-jung and an independent member of the National Assembly, and Myung Gye-nam, a film producer and actor, strongly criticized the indiscriminate attacks by not only the Democratic Party but also opposition parties, who have united to frame Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's 'Baekje remarks' as a 'regionalism frame.'

In particular, Congressman Kim emphasized that his father, the late President Kim Dae-jung, was someone who suffered greatly from regionalism more than anyone else and would never want to see the current situation.

On the 25th, Congressman Kim began on Facebook, "There are people who sharply criticize Governor Lee Jae-myung's recent interview, accusing him of promoting 'anti-Honam sentiment' among other candidates."

He continued, "Governor Lee Jae-myung's remarks were intended to express the idea that if Honam takes the lead in achieving integration, it would create a new history, and he was also comparing the current candidates' expansiveness. I believe anyone can understand that he was not talking about anti-Honam sentiment or discrimination," defending Lee.

Congressman Kim added, "We should not use regionalism while talking about the spirit of Kim Dae-jung," and said, "The reason I strongly criticized the People's Party in 2016 for engaging in wrong politics by exploiting regionalism and shouting as if that was the spirit of Kim Dae-jung was the same."

Furthermore, he warned sternly, "I hope he does not become a politician who revives destructive regional sentiments to become president and stigmatizes those within the same camp. Do not use President Kim Dae-jung."

He also advised, "Words that cause great wounds to each other and politics that cross the line are certainly not what the late elder would have wished for. It is time for everyone to exercise restraint to avoid becoming a sinking ship together."

Myung Gye-nam also questioned on Facebook that day, "Who is the one inciting regionalism?" and strongly criticized, "Do not pour cold water on the efforts of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun to overcome regionalism."

He further questioned again, "What is this act by those who have suffered all kinds of hardships trapped in the chains of regionalism?" and lamented, "Look in the mirror once and ask what competition you are having for what kind of victory."

Especially, he accused, "How can you distort and reverse-incite as a regionalism agitator without basing it on facts? Isn't this the kind of thing the Chosun Ilbo does?"

He then posted the related interview of candidate Lee Jae-myung on Facebook.

Earlier, on the 24th, Democratic Party presidential candidate Chung Sye-kyun criticized, "(Governor Lee Jae-myung's remarks) are a light, vulgar, and even immoral form of narrow-minded regional selfishness, and the perspective that defines political expansiveness by the candidate's region of origin is practically the same as Ilbe."

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon pointed out on social media, "Mentioning 5,000 years of Korean history and questioning the expansiveness of a Honam-origin candidate," calling it "a serious gaffe following the 'Yeongnam reverse discrimination' remarks."

The opposition also fiercely attacked Governor Lee's remark that "In 5,000 years of history, the Baekje side has never once been the main force to unify the entire Korean Peninsula."

People Power Party presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo wrote on social media, "It's truly amazing how a certain fandom forms even when someone lives a reckless and chaotic life," adding, "If he becomes the Democratic Party candidate, it would be great for us. It seems we can achieve regime change without much effort."

People Power Party lawmaker Chung Jin-suk also criticized Lee, saying, "It is a crude historical perception that forcibly distorts facts," and "Study history. I am ashamed in front of the children growing up."