Lee Jae-myung, "Are you digging up old matters for revenge because you have nothing to do... Incompetence is a sin," targeting Yoon Seok-yeol

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Gyeongju=Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, held an impromptu speech on the 10th at ‘Hwangridan-gil’ on Taejong-ro, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, stating that he would focus on the economy and people’s livelihood rather than political revenge. This remark appears to be aimed at the fact that the administrative lawsuit to cancel the ‘suspension of the prosecutor general’s duties’ filed by his opponent, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party presidential candidate, during his tenure as prosecutor general, was dismissed.

Appearing on Hwangridan-gil in a relatively casual outfit wearing a polo shirt and jacket, Candidate Lee climbed onto a beer box and gave an impromptu speech. He said, “We must move toward the future, not the past,” and added, “Using the sword and power entrusted by the people to dig up my political opponents to see if they did anything wrong and take revenge by clinging to the past is something that must not be done.”

He continued, “Five years or four years really pass quickly. The things we can do are very limited,” and raised his voice, saying, “It is difficult and busy to create a better environment for those who are suffering right now, so why would anyone have so much free time to dig up the past and take revenge?”

Candidate Lee emphasized, “Lee Jae-myung is neither Moon Jae-in nor Yoon Seok-yeol. He is Lee Jae-myung,” and added, “The world that Lee Jae-myung will create will be different from before. It will not go back to the past but move forward for tomorrow. It will be progress, not regression.”

He also targeted Candidate Yoon, saying, “In these complicated times, incompetence and ignorance are sins,” and “The person who must take responsibility for the fate of the country and the lives of 52 million people says he doesn’t know and will do it by asking.” Candidate Lee added, “It’s strange to ask, but if you go and ask, will the country be in good shape? Even if you want to employ people, you must have the ability to evaluate them.”

Candidate Lee’s spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, was also present at the speech. Referring to the ‘candidate replacement theory’ raised by some within the ruling party that day, Candidate Lee responded, “They keep saying to replace the candidate, but don’t say such things. Our couple fights over it.”