Chayuram's Husband: "If It's Four Women, It's Over"... Baehyun-jin and Na Kyung-won Say "Inappropriate and Offensive" (Summary)

Lee Ji-sung "Grandfather image... Bae Hyun-jin, Na Kyung-won, and Kim Yeo-sa are not enough"
Bae Hyun-jin and Na Kyung-won immediately oppose, Joo Ho-young also expresses "regret"... Lee Ji-sung eventually apologizes

Author Lee Ji-seong is giving a special lecture titled "How to Create an Irreplaceable Political Party" at the People Power Party's "2022 National Assembly Members Workshop" held on the 25th at the Talent Education Training Center in Cheonan, Chungnam. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] At the first People Power Party workshop held 25 days after the presidential election, writer Lee Jiseong gave a special lecture and said, "There is a severe lack of youthful and female images."

When controversy arose over the appropriateness of his lecture content, Lee eventually apologized.

Lee is the husband of billiards player Cha Yuram, who joined the People Power Party in May, and is known for works such as "The Attic of Dreams."

On the afternoon of the day, Lee gave a lecture titled "How to Create a Political Party That Cannot Be Replaced by Artificial Intelligence" at the People Power Party workshop held at the Cheonan Talent and Human Resources Education Center.

Lee's remarks came after a question from floor leader Kwon Seongdong at the end of the lecture, asking, "It is said that you (Lee) pressured your wife Cha to join our party and help out, what is the reason for that?" Lee smiled and replied, "Yes, I did pressure her."

Lee said, "Many people told me that the People Power Party lacks two images: youth and women," adding, "I am truly sorry, but when you think of a conservative party, the first image that comes to mind is that of grandfathers."

He continued, "I told my wife that if she joined the People Power Party, it might change the image to one of youth and beautiful women," and mentioned, "There are also Baehyun-jin and Na Kyung-won, all beautiful women, but somehow it feels insufficient. Even with First Lady Kim Geon-hee, it seems lacking. If you join and become part of the 'Four-person group,' it would be the end."

Immediately after these remarks, applause and laughter erupted from the seats where the lawmakers were sitting.

Later, Lee shared a news article covering his remarks on his Facebook, writing, "The article's headline... Baehyun-jin, Na Kyung-won, and First Lady Kim Geon-hee are young and beautiful, but the numbers are insufficient. Only by adding Cha Yuram can the People Power Party's image become young and beautiful. That was the intention, and it was said as a joke. Oh well, no big deal."

Lawmakers Baehyun-jin and former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who were mentioned by name in Lee's lecture, immediately expressed public displeasure.

Baehyun-jin wrote on Facebook, "Forming a group of four young and beautiful women with the president's wife and public servants elected by the people? What kind of perception level is this?" She added, "It's beautiful to see a couple with good marital harmony, but if it is excessively expressed outside the home like today, you will only be called 'palbulchul' (a doting husband who brags excessively)."

Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won also expressed displeasure on Facebook, saying, "I am displeased with Lee's remarks about beautiful female images. Such comments and approaches only reinforce our party's image as an old-fashioned group." She pointed out, "There are two problems with the remarks: judging women by their appearance and judging women only by their image regardless of political ability."

She continued, "We rarely hear the term 'handsome male politician.' Yet, attaching this only to female politicians leads to disparagement of a specific gender," urging an apology.

Lee apologized in a comment on Baehyun-jin's Facebook, saying, "If it sounded inappropriate, I apologize. I will accept your criticism graciously."

However, regarding former lawmaker Na, Lee posted separately, "If you felt displeased by my remark that you also have a young and beautiful image, I apologize. But am I or you the one who created and reinforced the old-fashioned party image?" he retorted sarcastically.

He added, "If there is a handsome or muscular male politician, I would compliment him by saying he is handsome and has a great body. By the way, I think Minister Han Dong-hoon is very neat and handsome in appearance."

He further stated, "At the workshop, I talked about various topics such as education reform, cultural projects, and North Korean human rights, but it is disappointing that a great politician like you only reacts by focusing on the single remark about 'young and beautiful image' without mentioning these topics."

Emergency Response Committee Chairman Joo Ho-young told reporters after the lecture regarding the controversy over Lee's remarks, "I took it as a suggestion to somewhat supplement our party's lacking image. But looking closely at the context, there are parts that can be misunderstood and are inappropriate, so I regret it."

Lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun responded to reporters' questions, "Focusing on the tail end of the words like that... You have to see the whole context."

Meanwhile, in his lecture, Lee said, "I am not denying progressivism, but I think the Democratic Party of Korea is a party that should never hold power because it is such a mess," adding, "Watching the recent process of Lee Jae-myung becoming a private shrine, they are people whose political life should be ended in Korea as soon as possible."

When criticism arose over his 'end the Democratic Party's political life' remarks, Lee wrote on Facebook, "Anyway, I will live freely saying what I want. I lived silently watching the social atmosphere in Korea, and what came was the Moon Jae-in administration."

He added, "My words may not always be right, but I will live speaking freely. I am a writer, not a clergyman, public official, or politician."

However, as the controversy grew, around 8 p.m., Lee posted on social media, "I sincerely apologize for causing controversy with my remarks at the People Power Party workshop special lecture. I will be more careful with my words in the future," and then deleted all related posts he had previously made.

Later, billiards player Cha Yuram posted on her Facebook, saying, "I also completely disagree with the inappropriate content of those remarks," and apologized to First Lady Kim Geon-hee, lawmaker Na Kyung-won, and lawmaker Baehyun-jin.

She added, "Today's People Power Party workshop was a precious occasion to prepare for Korea's leap forward ahead of the regular National Assembly session. I am very sorry for causing offense despite the excessive invitation."

Earlier, after lawmaker Kim Seong-won caused controversy with a 'slip of the tongue' during flood recovery volunteer work, the People Power Party imposed a 'ban on drinking' for this workshop and tightened internal discipline, but some pointed out that the purpose was somewhat undermined by the controversy over Lee's special lecture.