"Turning Away After a Word to the Desperate Plea to Protect"
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, leaving the scene after hearing protests from the protesters of the Coalition for the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act / Photo by Coalition for the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act Facebook
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, was seen asking "Is that all?" and leaving after hearing protests from the 'Coalition for the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act' demonstrators. In response, the Justice Party criticized him, saying, "This is the very character of candidate Lee Jae-myung."
On the 7th, Justice Party leader Yeo Young-guk wrote on his Facebook, "To the desperate cries asking to protect life from discrimination and hatred, and to protect existence, candidate Lee responded with just one phrase, 'Is that all?' and turned away," sharply criticizing him.
He continued, "It felt like a cold fear," adding, "That cold phrase, accompanied by a hand wave and a smile in front of the desperate cries of the people, is the cruel smile of an angel."
Leader Yeo said, "As the Justice Party leader who proposed the Anti-Discrimination Act, I will respond to that question," and stated, "On behalf of the 71.2% of citizens who support the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act to fulfill our human duty to those who have suffered from discrimination and hatred to the point of giving up on living, crossing the boundaries of life, I answer that what has ended is the lifespan of Lee Jae-myung’s candidacy," strongly criticizing him.
Candidate Lee attended the invited lecture at the Financial Economics Seminar held on the 7th at Seoul National University in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News
On that day, candidate Lee was leaving after giving a lecture at the Seoul National University Finance and Economics Seminar when he was confronted by three young protesters. They, members of the 'Coalition for the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act,' demanded that he apologize for saying that social consensus is needed for the Anti-Discrimination Act.
Previously, on the 8th of last month, candidate Lee had met with the Korea Christian Federation and stated, "I fully agree with the opinion that we must reach a national consensus through sufficient discussion" regarding the Anti-Discrimination Act. The youths appeared to protest this statement by candidate Lee.
One young protester appealed, "I am a sexual minority. My existence cannot be subject to social consensus."
After listening to the protests, candidate Lee smiled and asked, "Is that all?" before leaving the scene.
This video was posted on the Facebook page of the Coalition for the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act. The coalition criticized, "The Democratic Party of Korea, which has made the existence a subject of social consensus and has not enacted the Anti-Discrimination Act for 14 years, have you finished your election campaign?" and added, "A presidential candidate who ignores the Anti-Discrimination Act will have no social consensus either."
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