Jung Se-kyun Urges Lee Jae-myung and Lee Nak-yeon to "Refrain" from Verbal Fights

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Jeong Seyeon, former Prime Minister and presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 31st addressed Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung and former party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who engaged in the so-called 'cow knife vs. chicken knife debate,' saying, "Using harsh slurs is embarrassing for the public. Please exercise restraint."

Jeong stated on Facebook that day, "Do not degrade the primary election into a cow and chicken fight. Ultimately, the Democratic Party ends up being criticized as a whole."

He added, "Stop the petty cow and chicken verbal sparring outside the party and let's compete and be evaluated with dignity and ability through a one-on-one final debate," and urged, "Let's have an open debate, not backbiting. Please respond to my request for a one-on-one showdown debate even now."

Earlier, former leader Lee Nak-yeon emphasized his comparative advantage in a media interview by targeting Governor Lee Jae-myung, saying, "The knife used to slaughter a chicken and the knife used to slaughter a cow are different."

In response, Hyun Geun-taek, spokesperson for Lee Jae-myung's campaign, released a statement mocking, "Lee Nak-yeon served as Prime Minister and party leader and did well in central politics, so are you saying Lee Jae-myung, who served as Seongnam Mayor and Gyeonggi Governor, never left the periphery?" He added, "What good is having a cow slaughtering knife if you can't even properly slaughter a chicken?"