Song Young-gil: "Attacks by Some Supporters of Lee Nak-yeon Are at Ilbe Level"
Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending a closed party executive meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 13th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has sparked controversy by comparing some supporters of former leader Lee Nak-yeon to the far-right community 'Ilbe (Ilgan Best)'. Some Democratic Party members have strongly opposed this remark, saying, "How can he call supporters 'Ilbe'?"
On the 14th, a petition titled "Petition for Song Young-gil's resignation for calling supporters 'Ilbe'" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. This petition has received preliminary consent from more than 100 people, and the administrator is reviewing whether to make it public.
The petitioner criticized, "On the 13th, during an interview with YTN, Representative Song said that some hardcore supporters attacked at the 'Ilbe level.' It's truly absurd. How can the leader of the ruling party, not even the opposition, call his supporters 'Ilbe'?"
He continued, "We are also Democratic Party members. We pay our party dues regularly, so how can he call us 'Ilbe'? We absolutely cannot tolerate this. Does he want a one team while speaking recklessly like this? We will never be one team. There is no reason to be one team while being called 'Ilbe'." The petitioner also urged Song to act with neutrality befitting a party leader and called for his resignation.
A petition calling for the resignation of Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has been posted. Photo by Cheong Wa Dae National Petition Board screen capture.
Earlier, on the 13th, Song had said that some of former leader Lee's hardcore supporters criticized the party leadership by raising the issue of 'invalid votes in the primary' and that their attacks were "almost at the Ilbe level."
In an interview with YTN, he criticized, "Those reform members who used to talk about media reform are spreading fake news and should reflect on themselves. They fabricate unverified facts and pour out malicious criticism. This behavior is no different from Ilbe."
Regarding Rep. Seol Hoon, who served as co-chairman of Lee Nak-yeon's campaign and mentioned the possibility of Governor Lee Jae-myung's detention in connection with the Daejang-dong scandal, Song said, "Isn't it wrong to act almost like a spokesperson for the People Power Party?"
Kim Kwang-jin, former senior secretary for political affairs at the Blue House and spokesperson and strategy chief for Lee Nak-yeon's campaign, expressed concern over Song's remarks. On YTN's "Hwang Bo-seon's Start New Morning," he said, "The elected person and the party need to actively reconcile conflicts," adding, "Is continuing to respond in such a manner really helpful for one team or unity?"
He added, "Having been involved in central politics with the Democratic Party for nearly 10 years, I have rarely seen a party leader call the defeated candidate's campaign chairman 'like a spokesperson for the People Power Party,' or call supporters 'like Ilbe,' or have the party's chief spokesperson issue comments against politicians within the party. It is much more necessary to soothe the hearts of the candidate, campaign, and supporters with the intention of coming together."
Jung Woon-hyun, former public relations chief of Lee Nak-yeon's campaign, also criticized on Facebook, saying, "It is shocking that Representative Song compares Lee Nak-yeon's supporters to Ilbe," and sharply asked, "Does he want to be one team, or does he want to break up?"
He said, "How can unity be achieved when the party leader's words and actions are so emotional and exclusive? He is infinitely tolerant and supportive of the Lee Jae-myung side, but is this really the proper conduct of a party leader? There is a reason why the 'Song Young-gil impeachment theory' is emerging in some quarters."
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