[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The ruling and opposition parties sharply diverged in their reactions to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, calling President Yoon Seok-yeol a 'gangster.' The ruling party criticized him, saying "It reminds us of the insult to his sister-in-law," while opposition figures responded that it was nothing significant, stating "He just returned President Yoon's past remarks."
On the 23rd, Chung Jin-seok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, posted on his social media, "Lee Jae-myung's true face, who poured out profane insults to his sister-in-law and brother, has been fully revealed," and evaluated, "He is showing the bottom of his character."
Earlier, Lee referred to the prosecution's investigation against him by saying, "If you play around with state power, that's a gangster, not a president," effectively calling President Yoon a 'gangster.'
In response, Chairman Chung criticized, "Throughout the last presidential election campaign, the shameless and inhumane words and actions surrounding him came to mind again," and added, "Lee Jae-myung was constantly at the center of controversy over allegations of illegally confining his brother in a psychiatric hospital and having an affair with an actress." He also listed suspicions surrounding Lee, including "a nephew who killed innocent people with heinous crimes and a son involved in gambling and prostitution scandals."
He further pointed out, "A local corrupt politician, who has been issued an arrest warrant for countless criminal acts, is mocking the judicial system of the Republic of Korea," and criticized, "The Democratic Party, which gave Lee Jae-myung a bulletproof armor, will remain a stain in the history of the constitution."
On the other hand, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won evaluated that "He just returned President Yoon Seok-yeol's past remarks," saying he "spoke his mind." On the same day, on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' Park said, "In the past, when President Yoon was Prosecutor General, he said things like, 'If you use investigative power for retaliation, that's a gangster, not a prosecutor.'"
Park also pointed out President Yoon's recent remarks targeting the construction labor union, referring to them as 'Geonpok (construction site violence),' saying, "It's not something a president should say," and added, "The flow of harsh language circulating in politics, such as 'Geonpok,' has appeared there as well." This suggests that President Yoon's use of violent language toward the union is influencing political discourse.
Former National Assembly Secretary-General Yoo In-tae also said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "Isn't that something the president said when he was a prosecutor?" and added, "The prosecution is treating Lee Jae-myung in a way that makes it inevitable for him to respond like this. The power is doing so to him."
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