The Democratic Party Criticizes Lee Jae-myung's First Party Leader Speech as "Lacking Basics" and "Contradictory"

Representative Jo Hae-jin "40 Minutes Struggling with Cognitive Dissonance"
Representative Kwon Seong-dong "From Start to Finish, Rhetoric of Illusion, Agitation, and Self-Denial"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] On the 28th, the People Power Party criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for his negotiation group representative speech, saying it "lacks fundamentals" and that it was "difficult due to cognitive dissonance."

Park Jeong-ha, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated in a commentary that "In his negotiation group representative speech, Lee called for a 'basic society,' but there was no fundamental political cooperation to persuade the people."

Park continued, "Lee Jae-myung-style populism, 'basic income,' has reappeared again after going around the presidential and local elections. Basic income cannot be realized just because a major opposition party chants about it," adding, "Due to the failed government-led growth under the Moon Jae-in administration, the country's granary is now empty, and the massive national debt is a time bomb threatening our economy."

Park also said, "If it is time to consider a great transformation as Lee mentioned, 'social consensus' must be a prerequisite, and realistic financial measures must be prepared," but "Lee shows no interest in social consensus and only stirs up public conflicts."

He further pointed out, "It is doubtful whether the slogan that diplomacy and peace are the economy is sincere," and criticized, "During this presidential trip, the Democratic Party distorted non-existent facts about the President, who is the national representative of the Republic of Korea, and continued political offensives, resulting in the shaking of the foundation of diplomacy such as the Korea-US alliance and damage to national interests."

Park emphasized, "What the people most wanted to hear today was the opposition leader's commitment to revive the economy through cooperation," and urged, "The Democratic Party and Lee should now prioritize 'saving people's livelihoods,' the fundamental of politics, rather than empty 'political slogans' that lack basics."

People Power Party lawmaker Cho Hae-jin also wrote on his Facebook, "It was a scene of oxymoron where a person lacking basics talks about basics, and a difficult 40 minutes of cognitive dissonance," adding, "Is the 'basic society' Lee talks about a society where a person lacking basics talks about basics? The party leader is a suspect in a serious crime, and what basics can the Democratic Party, which supports such a person lacking basics, talk about? Lee himself must first have basics."

Along with this, Cho said, "If Lee's words have any sincerity, he should stop the Democratic Party's strategic political offensives and irrational attacks on the President, and calmly respond to the investigation himself," and "For the realization of the 'basic society' he proclaimed, Lee should first free the Democratic Party from the shackles of the leader's judicial risks and release the National Assembly and state affairs from being held hostage."

People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong also criticized, "The speech, which began in earnest with the phrase 'Imagine once,' was full of illusions, agitation, and self-denial from start to finish." He added, "There was a phrase I liked in Lee's speech: a call to give up parliamentary immunity so that false agitation cannot be done," and said, "I fully agree. Therefore, Lee should stop the Democratic Party's hostage drama for shielding and sincerely undergo investigation by the prosecution and police. Before talking about 'basic society,' answer the 'basic suspicions' first."

Earlier, in his first negotiation group representative speech of the day, Lee emphasized a basic society where people are guaranteed a basic life.