"What if Lee Jae-myung drank like that?"... Yoon criticizes Lee Jae-myung for 'drinking politics'

Lee Jae-myung on Yoon's 'Drunken Politics' Article: "What If I Drank Like That?"
Some Analyze It as a Subtle Criticism of Yoon Seok-yeol
Lee Jun-seok Targets Lee's Drinking Record: "The Problem Is Not Drinking but Drunk Driving"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, posted on his Twitter on the 11th, mentioning Yoon Seok-yeol's drinking politics. Photo by Lee's Twitter capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, for his so-called 'drinking politics.'

On the 11th, Lee introduced an article on his Twitter stating that Yoon had overcome political crises through drinking gatherings at critical moments, and questioned, "What if Lee Jae-myung had drunk like that?"

This has led some to analyze that Lee was indirectly pointing out the inappropriateness of Yoon's 'drinking politics.'

The article shared by Lee stated, "Since declaring his presidential candidacy, Yoon has shown not only skinship with political figures but also breaking through political crises through drinking gatherings," and analyzed, "These drinking gatherings serve as a medium for creating his own people by showing a friendly side through candid conversations with others and attracting charm."

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, attended the "21st Anniversary Ceremony and Academic Conference Commemorating President Kim Dae-jung's Nobel Peace Prize" held at the Kim Dae-jung Library of Yonsei University in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 9th, delivering a congratulatory speech. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers.

On the same day, Jo Seung-rae, a Democratic Party lawmaker, also mentioned Yoon's drinking communication. He posted on his Facebook, "It is said that Yoon overcame crises through drinking communication. Well, that might be necessary to some extent," but criticized, "However, wouldn't a president who cannot communicate without drinking be problematic?"

He then referred to the recent controversy surrounding Yoon's 'evasion of answers.' Jo said, "During a conversation with young cultural artists, Yoon did not answer the youth's questions himself and handed the microphone to Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who was sitting beside him," adding, "He probably did not understand the questions and did not know how to respond. This is Yoon's communication without drinking," he pointed out.

In response, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, posted on his Facebook on the 12th, stating, "The problem is not drinking alcohol but drunk driving (that is the problem)," targeting Lee Jae-myung's past record of drunk driving.