Controversy Over Mocking Ahn: Hong Joon-pyo Says to Lee Jun-seok, "Isn't It a Bit Harsh?"

Netizens "Unpleasant to be treated as 'domegeum' with Representative Lee"
Lee mocks Ahn's remarks with 'rlㅋㅋ'
People's Party "Once claimed elite conservatism... rename to 'Power of Ridicule'"

Hong Jun-pyo, then a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, is announcing the 'Comprehensive Policy Shift for the Era of G7 Advanced Countries' at the JP Hope Camp in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 30th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, recently commented on the ridicule controversy surrounding Lee Jun-seok, saying, "(The representative's remarks) seem a bit harsh."

On the 22nd, Hong responded on his online communication platform 'Dream of Youth' in the Q&A section, saying, "I feel very uncomfortable being lumped together with that person (the representative)" and "I cannot contain my anger at his daily ongoing ridicule of others," adding, "Doesn't it seem a bit harsh?"

A user wrote, "The majority of the 2030 generation, commonly called the MZ generation, absolutely do not agree with his 'ridicule,'" and appealed, "There are less than fifteen days left until the election. It would be good if a 'person' with experience, wisdom, and impeccable character could demonstrate leadership."

Earlier, on the 22nd, Lee shared an article on his Facebook titled "Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoon Seok-youl 'ran away scared of unification. If Yoon gives up, I will bring regime change,'" and wrote, "Just type ㄹㅇㅋㅋ in the comments."

'ㄹㅇㅋㅋ' is a newly coined term combining 'ㄹㅇ,' meaning 'real (REAL, genuine),' and 'ㅋㅋ,' which represents laughter. This led to interpretations that Lee was mocking Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, by implying "You're right."

Photo by Lee Jun-seok, captured from the Facebook page of the People Power Party leader

In response, Yoon Young-hee, deputy spokesperson of the People’s Party Central Election Committee, issued a statement titled "Lee Jun-seok, the Ridicule Power, Deeply Engrossed in the Campaign to Defeat People Power Party Candidate Yoon Seok-youl," saying, "Lee’s low-level political behavior is dragging the dignity of South Korean politics into the abyss," and warned, "The more Lee promotes himself, the more inevitable Yoon Seok-youl’s defeat will be."

She continued, "The People Power Party, which once claimed to be elite conservatives, no longer has even a shred of dignity," and criticized, "From the party’s face, the representative, to (Won Hee-ryong) the head of the policy committee, it’s a spectacle to see them giggling on internet communities and SNS. I recommend they just rename themselves 'Ridicule Power'."

Meanwhile, Lee had previously stated, "I can ridicule candidate Ahn."

On the 21st, Lee appeared on KBS Radio’s 'Joo Jin-woo Live' and said, "Politicians ridicule each other mutually. But on the other hand, the People’s Party threatens unification every election," adding, "This is a behavior that must be eradicated. As a politician to another politician, I can say anything to candidate Ahn."