Candidate Lee Jae-myung speaking at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions meeting [Photo by Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea expressed regret, calling the North Korean media's comparison of presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung to "rotten alcohol" a "clear interference in internal affairs."
On the 22nd, Oh Young-hoon, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party's election campaign committee, said in a written briefing, "A North Korean propaganda outlet crossed the line by mentioning the ruling and opposition presidential candidates by name and making offensive remarks."
On the same day, the North Korean propaganda outlet Meari posted an article titled "The Drunkard's Insight" under the pseudonym "Drunkard of South Korea," describing candidate Lee as "rotten alcohol," People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl as "underripe alcohol," and People’s Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo as "poorly mixed alcohol."
This was interpreted as criticism of Lee’s alleged preferential treatment in the Daejang-dong development project, Yoon’s lack of political experience, and Ahn’s political background.
Spokesperson Oh said, "Elections in a democratic country are a sacred process to elect representatives of the sovereign people," adding, "Such statements by North Korean media can be misunderstood as interference in South Korea’s presidential election. It is a clear interference in internal affairs."
He continued, "Offensive remarks that disrupt the election process do not help the future and development of inter-Korean relations at all," and expressed "deep regret over the loss of dignity in expression and excessive interference."
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