Jeong Cheong-rae on Yoon's 'African Manual Labor' Remark: "Creative Generator of Absurd Statements"

Jeong Cheong-rae "'I've heard the saying 'If your head is bad, your hands and feet suffer' but...'"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, is appearing on the YouTube live broadcast "All Day Live" held on the 12th at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, targeting 12 preliminary candidates for the primary election. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who sparked controversy with his remark about 'African manual labor,' calling him a "creative maker of absurd remarks."

On the 16th, Jeong pointed out on his Facebook, "I've heard the saying 'If your head is bad, your hands and feet suffer,' but this is the first time I've heard 'manual labor is only done in Africa.'

He added, "The public listening to this is tired and fed up. Please don't come outside anymore," and criticized, "What do you know to recklessly spout embarrassing words in front of university students?"

Earlier, on the 13th, former Prosecutor General Yoon held a meeting with students from Andong University. During the meeting, which was held under the theme of 'youth employment,' Yoon emphasized the importance of corporate competitiveness centered on advanced technology.

In explaining the industrial structure, Yoon stated, "Companies survive on technology that has national competitiveness. Nothing works by doing manual labor like this. Even India doesn't do that anymore. Only Africa does," he claimed.

These remarks by former Prosecutor General Yoon drew negative reactions, with criticisms that they were not only a diplomatic faux pas toward African countries but could also be interpreted as insulting to manual labor workers.

On the 15th, Kwon Ji-woong, spokesperson for Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign, a ruling party candidate, commented, "Are people doing delivery work during the COVID-19 pandemic laborers who only work in Africa?" He further questioned, "In which country is the labor of taking care of children, washing dishes, or carrying heavy loads done?"

As the controversy over his remarks grew, former Prosecutor General Yoon explained, "In the past, we exported simple labor products like wigs, which then moved to China, then India, and now to Africa," adding, "While the government should create stable and quality jobs for university students in the future, for the supply and demand of such jobs to match, I hope they focus more on advanced science and computers and develop their capabilities."