Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, attended the opening ceremony of the Democratic Party's future headquarters 'Blue Soda' located in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd and delivered a congratulatory speech. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The People Power Party criticized Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, over recent controversies involving preferential treatment for the children of his close aides and relatives, calling him the "ultimate hypocrite."
Won Il-hee, spokesperson for the People Power Party's election committee, stated in a commentary on the 2nd, "(Candidate Lee) hired two sons?one of Kim In-seop, former head of his election headquarters, and another of Choi, a former member of the Seongnam City transition committee?at the Seongnam Industrial Promotion Agency in 2011," adding, "Out of 68 applicants, only those two passed."
He continued, "In 2013, the son of a former advisory committee chairman of the Seongnam City transition committee was also hired at the same place," calling it "a case of carefully taking care of and placing the sons of close aides."
Spokesperson Won also recalled that in 2009, when Lee was the deputy spokesperson of the Democratic Party, he criticized the Lee Myung-bak administration's policy on non-regular workers in public enterprises.
At that time, Lee said, "If there is even the slightest compassion for non-regular workers who have to support their families and live in anxiety, this could not happen."
Regarding this, Won pointed out, "However, the following year, when Lee became mayor of Seongnam, he filled public positions in Seongnam City not with those diligent people who have to support their families, but with his close aides and their sons."
He added, "This is the true 'identity of Lee Jae-myung' and the reality of 'Lee Jae-myung-style fairness.'"
Cha Seung-hoon, full-time deputy spokesperson of the election committee, referred to recent reports that the Blue House sent holiday gifts to Lee's nephew, who has a record of drunk driving and hit-and-run.
Deputy spokesperson Cha criticized, "Is Candidate Lee and his family a royal family?" and said, "They share all kinds of preferential treatments among themselves and even when they do wrong, they cleverly evade the judicial system's net."
He continued, "The Blue House declared that gifts are given to those who have devoted themselves to the nation and society in various fields and to socially considerate groups," and questioned, "Is Candidate Lee's convicted nephew someone who has devoted himself to the nation and society?"
He then mentioned various suspicions related to Candidate Lee and snapped, "If he becomes president, how much and in what ways does he plan to exploit the position?"
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