Gomin Jeong Supporting Lee Jae-myung: "Let's Create a World Where People Without Anything Can Become President"

Lee Jae-myung "My humble origins... A flower blooms even in the mud"
Go Min-jung "How heart-wrenching it must have been... Please see the lotus in the mud"

Ko Min-jung, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, faced criticism from the People Power Party for describing his family background as "lowly origin" during an explanation of his family history. The People Power Party called it a "pitiful emotional appeal." In response, Democratic Party lawmaker Ko Min-jung retorted on the 6th, saying, "Let's create a world where a person with nothing can become president."

On the same day, Ko opened her post on Facebook by saying, "It seems Lee's words asking people to 'look at the lotus flower in the mud' moved people's hearts. I see attacks coming from all directions."

She continued, "Didn't he say not to insult poor people? That means even those with nothing should be able to do anything."

Earlier, on the 4th, Lee visited the public market in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, and mentioned his difficult family history, including parents who were janitors, a brother who lost his ankle in a coal mine accident, an older sister who worked as a caregiver, and a younger sister who delivered yogurt. He said, "My origin is lowly. Because my family is lowly, if you dig around, you'll find a lot of dirt." He added, "What can I do about where I was born? But even in the mud, flowers bloom."

Regarding this, Ko said on her Facebook the same day, "I wonder how much Lee Jae-myung, the person, must have felt heartbroken when harsh words about the family he spent difficult times with were exchanged." She added, "Nevertheless, I want to applaud him for thoroughly distinguishing between public and private matters as he has lived."

She appealed, "Please look at the lotus flower in the mud. Give him a chance to make Korea a strong country, not one with poor construction, through his outstanding administrative skills and drive." She continued, "Please open your hearts to Lee, a verified candidate who knows how to run a country that has lived and struggled in the mud with our people, not candidate Yoon Seok-youl, who is surrounded by former prosecutors and united only by anger and hostility without any vision."

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the People Power Party criticized Lee's remarks as a "pitiful emotional appeal." Lee Yang-su, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party's presidential campaign committee, issued a statement titled "Lee Jae-myung's pitiful emotional appeal leading to insulting the people," criticizing, "Lee's self-deprecation has gone too far and turned into insulting the people."

He said, "No one asked about his unfortunate family history. No one even criticized it. Yet he himself said his origin is lowly and blamed all the events in his life on that 'lowly origin.'"

He added, "Being born poor is neither a sin nor something to be ashamed of. None of the jobs Lee mentioned?janitor, yogurt delivery person, sewing machine operator, construction worker?are lowly." He said, "The people will respond with 'regime change' to his shallow attempt to cover his faults and overcome the crisis by excessively self-deprecating and stirring the people's tears."

He also urged, "Before it's too late, he must bow his head and apologize for insulting the people who work honestly and sweat in their respective positions."