Yoon Seok-yeol: "Should I write 民 instead of 王 on my palm?"... Lee Jun-seok: "If it were me, I'd write 洪"

People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is giving a greeting at the on-site Supreme Council meeting held on the morning of the 11th at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, revealed a conversation with former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who had been embarrassed due to the "王" character on his palm.

On the 15th, Lee appeared on CBS Radio and said, "I met former Prosecutor General Yoon at the funeral hall of the late former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo the day before." He added, "By chance, our party politicians were seated together at the funeral hall," and conveyed, "Former Prosecutor General Yoon said, 'Because of the 王 character, shouldn't it be 民 written on the palm instead?'"

Lee said that he replied at the time, "Sir, you still lack a sense of humor. If it were me, I would write the character 洪 on my palm." This was interpreted as a joke targeting Representative Hong Joon-pyo, a presidential contender within the party and a rival of former Prosecutor General Yoon in the primary race. He added, "If you show your palm and reveal the character 'Hong' like this, wouldn't the opponent be embarrassed?" and continued, "Everyone should lightly move past such controversies, but neither the side handling it nor the side persistently questioning it seems to be doing well."

Regarding another presidential contender within the party, Representative Yoo Seung-min, persistently questioning the so-called Cheongong master, Lee said, "It is possible to ask if he agrees, but I think it went too far." He explained, "Former Prosecutor General Yoon is a busy person and probably hasn't listened to all 10,000 lectures. It went beyond common sense."

Lee also commented on the People Power Party primary debate, saying, "I think I saw something I shouldn't have." He said, "They keep talking about nukes and shamanism. The debate escalates, but there is no substance. I hope it doesn't go too much in that direction."

Regarding former Prosecutor General Yoon's remarks about disbanding the party, he said, "It was probably criticism of bad behavior, so I don't think it's a big problem," but advised, "Still, the party has its pride, and if a member who has only been in the party for three months comes out like this, it could be disadvantageous."