Professor Criticizing Lee Jae-myung's Basic Income Referred for Disciplinary Action by Ruling Party... Jin Joong-kwon on "What Could Happen if Lee Comes to Power"

Professor Lee Sang-yi, Critic of Lee Jae-myung's Basic Income, Referred to the Democratic Party Ethics Committee

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 24th, former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon expressed concerns about "what might happen to this country if Lee Jae-myung comes to power," amid the disciplinary referral of Professor Lee Sang-yi of Jeju National University to the Democratic Party Ethics Committee for strongly criticizing Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, on basic income. Professor Lee served as the chairman of the Welfare State Vision Committee for former party leader Lee Nak-yeon during the Democratic Party presidential primary.

On the same day, Professor Lee explained on his Facebook, along with a photo of the disciplinary petition stating the reasons for the referral, that "on the third day of Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party, I received notification that I have been referred to the Democratic Party Ethics Committee for disciplinary action." According to Professor Lee, the Democratic Party Ethics Committee has requested his appearance at 2 p.m. on the 29th to provide an explanation in person or in writing.

The disciplinary petition disclosed by Professor Lee states the petition's main points as "spreading false information and personal attacks," and specifies that "false information about the candidate is being spread while simultaneously damaging his honor with insulting language."

The petitioner claimed in the disciplinary petition dated the 16th that Professor Lee "spread false information about the candidate on Facebook and Twitter while simultaneously damaging his honor with insulting language." He was also accused of posting false and insulting remarks such as "basic income populist" and "party involved in the Daejang-dong unearned income gate," thereby committing the alleged acts.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is responding to reporters' questions regarding the collective resignation of key party officials at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 24th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, former professor Jin sarcastically addressed the candidate, saying, "Long live Supreme Leader Lee Jae-myung, who is great, wise, the sun of the nation, and whose name will shine forever."

He also pointed out, "It is not Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party, but the Democratic Party of Lee Jae-myung," adding, "Already, Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil is launching a movement to learn from Comrade Lee Jae-myung." This appears to criticize Leader Song for recently sharing Lee's book and encouraging so-called "studying Lee Jae-myung." On the 19th, Song posted on Facebook, "Please study Lee Jae-myung. The more you know, the more you will see him differently," and on the 20th, he uploaded a photo of himself reading Lee's book on a train.

Meanwhile, the Internet Election Reporting Deliberation Committee under the National Election Commission recently took measures such as "caution" and "request for cooperation in fair reporting" against some media outlets that directly quoted former professor Jin's remarks or writings about the candidate.