Controversy Over Lee Jae-myung's Interview on Day 7 of Fasting... From Impeachment to Stepfather

Criticism of Opposition Leader's Interview Remarks by Ruling Party Officials

On the 7th day of his 'indefinite fast' marking the first anniversary of his inauguration, controversy continued over an interview released by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Regarding his statement in the interview that "if someone acts against the will of the people, they must be removed," the ruling party criticized it as implying 'presidential impeachment.' There were also criticisms that his comparison of the Yoon Seok-yeol government to a 'stepfather' could be seen as disparaging remarried families.

Shin Ju-ho, the standing deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, said in a statement on the 6th, "In a YouTube interview hosted by Kim Eo-jun, Lee shouted about a 'crisis of democracy' and even made the shameless claim that 'if the president acts against the will of the people, he must be removed.' The repeated impeachment claims from the Democratic Party seem to represent Lee’s true feelings, who, unable to overcome the pain of losing the presidential election, wants to reject the election results," criticizing him.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is meeting and conversing with former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won in a tent in front of the National Assembly main building, where he is on a hunger strike on the 6th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The interview Shin referred to was released that morning on the YouTube channel 'Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory' featuring Lee Jae-myung.

In the interview conducted the previous day (the 5th), Lee stated, "Ultimately, the players in the ring must truly work for the people, and our citizens must monitor them, point out mistakes, and if they act against the will of the people and the national interest, they must be removed. That is democracy."

Although Lee did not specify who should be removed, his remarks were interpreted as implying impeachment, especially in connection with recent impeachment remarks made by Democratic Party lawmakers Seol Hoon and Kim Yong-min.

Lee’s suggestion of the possibility of 'long-term rule by force' on News Factory also became a target of criticism from the ruling party. Lee said, "(The remaining) 3 years and 6 months of exercising power is neither very long nor short, but would they really commit such outrageous acts for that period? I think they might be trying to change the entire system, culture, and legal framework to pursue long-term or permanent rule by force."

Regarding this statement, Jang Ye-chan, the youth supreme council member of the People Power Party, said on Channel A’s News A Live, "These are extremely dangerous remarks for the leader of the main opposition party to make in an official interview," adding, "Even gossipers who mention 'long-term rule or permanent rule by force' would be criticized as spreading baseless conspiracy theories, but the fact that the leader of the ruling majority party openly talks like this is itself a side effect of the fasting."

His comparison of the Yoon Seok-yeol government to "a scary stepfather holding a whip" was also pointed out as potentially disparaging remarried families.

Baek Kyung-hoon, standing deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, said, "He himself is committing mistakes and suddenly disparaging remarried families," calling it "a sudden and baseless accusation." Assemblywoman Heo Eun-ah of the People Power Party also said, "I do not intend to criticize him for 'stepfather disparagement.' I just find this sudden fasting absurd," and urged, "Please stop this baseless fast."