"The President's Wife as a Public Figure... Is Authority and Support Being Granted?"
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (left), and Kim Keon-hee, wife of Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, drew a line regarding the comparison between his son's gambling controversy and Kim Geon-hee, the spouse of Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, saying, "The president's son is an adult and, in fact, a different person."
On the morning of the 29th, Lee appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and responded to the host's question, "There are claims that Kim has appeared before the public and apologized, but has your son appeared?" by saying, "The president's wife is a public figure who is given authority and support."
When asked to evaluate Kim's public apology, Lee said, "Isn't it about electing a president who takes full responsibility for the nation's fate and the lives of the people? Tremendous authority is granted," adding, "Then it is right to thoroughly verify all factors that could influence that authority."
He continued, "Whether family, close aides, or oneself, past or present, everything should be disclosed. Regarding that point, I have revealed everything as it is. When apologizing, one should apologize for something they did wrong. I don't understand apologizing just because the public wants it; that might make people uncomfortable," he added.
Regarding the plagiarism controversy over his master's thesis, Lee said, "I should have cited sources but did not. I acknowledged the controversy and returned the degree since it was not essential to my life and I was at fault, but the school did not cancel it."
He also said, "A document came from the professor in charge stating that this level is sufficient for a night graduate school degree," adding, "So I am saying 'It's unnecessary' and 'Please cancel it'."
Regarding Yoon's announcement that he would not use the title of First Lady and would abolish the Blue House's Second Office, Lee criticized, "I cannot accept that. If there is a problem with the wife, you should solve the wife's problem, not abolish the system."
He added, "The First Lady is not just a figurehead. There is also spousal diplomacy," pointing out, "When couples travel abroad together, they receive support, and Hillary Clinton independently engaged in international activities as a spouse for the country. I wonder for whom they intend to block all such opportunities."
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