Lee Jae-myung Apologizes for 'Cho Kuk Incident' Hypocrisy vs Opposition Calls It a 'Fake Show' and Laughs

"Damaging Fairness, Sincerely Apologize," Lee Jae-myung Bows
People Power Party: "Lee Jae-myung and Cho Kuk Are Twins... Questioning His Right to Mention Double Standards"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is attending the 'Broadcast Journalists Club Debate' held at the Korea Broadcasting Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd, waiting for the debate to begin.
Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, apologized on the 2nd regarding the so-called 'Cho Kuk incident,' saying, "I have damaged the public's expectations of fairness and caused disappointment due to double standards." The People Power Party criticized, saying, "We cannot help but laugh at whether Candidate Lee is qualified to mention Cho Kuk's double standards."

At the Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club debate that day, Candidate Lee said, "Former Minister Cho is still one of the roots of the problem why the Democratic Party is being ignored and criticized by the public," adding, "The democratic reform camp should be more honest and take greater responsibility even for small faults."

He continued, "Of course, one must take responsibility for mistakes, and especially the higher the position and the greater the responsibility, the stronger the criticism must be acknowledged," adding, "In a situation where fairness is an issue, the Democratic Party has no excuse for damaging the public's expectations of fairness and causing disappointment. Within the scope of what I can do, I sincerely apologize with a very humble attitude."

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. / Photo by Yonhap News

The People Power Party criticized Candidate Lee's apology as a 'disguised show.' Won Il-hee, spokesperson for the People Power Party's election campaign committee, issued a statement saying, "Candidate Lee should stop the disguised apology show for the Cho Kuk incident and accept a special prosecution for the Daejang-dong scandal first."

Spokesperson Won said, "We cannot help but laugh at whether Candidate Lee is qualified to mention Cho Kuk's double standards. This is because Candidate Lee resembles Cho Kuk like identical twins, riding on the Daejang-dong gate, the largest national plundering case since Dangun," adding, "Lying, denying, evading, giving irrelevant answers?Candidate Lee's behavior is no different from Cho Kuk reflected in a mirror."

He continued, "If Candidate Lee truly wants to apologize for the Cho Kuk incident, the order should be to apologize and express regret to former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who was excluded from nomination after criticizing Cho Kuk," emphasizing, "In the same context, if Candidate Lee sincerely apologizes for Cho Kuk's double standards, the order is to confess the truth of the Daejang-dong gate to the public and ask for forgiveness."