"Lee Young-ae Under Attack, Collective Lynching by 'Leftists'... The Country Must Protect"

"Are You Saying Not to Build the Lee Seungman Memorial Hall?"

Actress Lee Young-ae donated 50 million won to the construction of the Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Hall, and when she faced criticism from opposition camps, a People Power Party lawmaker argued that "the state must protect her."

On the 13th, Yoon Han-hong, a People Power Party lawmaker, pointed out at the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee audit, "Ms. Lee Young-ae is under tremendous attack," adding, "The so-called 'left-wing' forces are attacking her to the extent of what can be called a collective lynching."

Actor Lee Young-ae

Lawmaker Yoon said, "Ultimately, the purpose of those criticisms is to prevent the construction of the Syngman Rhee Memorial Hall," and added, "People like her (Lee Young-ae) should be actively protected by the state." Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik responded, "That is correct."

Ms. Lee faced criticism from opposition camps after donating 50 million won last month on the 12th to a nationwide fundraising campaign for the construction of the Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Hall.

An opposition-leaning YouTube channel raised rumors at the end of last month about a close relationship between Ms. Lee Young-ae and Kim Keon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The claims included that Kim Keon-hee attended Ms. Lee’s twins’ first birthday party and that Ms. Lee promoted events for Kim’s company, suggesting they are close.

Ms. Lee’s side denied all the friendship rumors as false information and officially requested an apology from the YouTube channel. Regarding the criticism of her donation, Ms. Lee explained, "Rather than harboring hatred and conflict by putting ideology first, I thought that embracing and supporting each other in harmony is the path to developing a more mature liberal democracy. Therefore, I donated to the memorial foundation to honor the contributions of all the late presidents."

In a letter delivered by Lee Young-ae to the foundation, she mentioned both the merits and faults of former President Syngman Rhee, while also informing that she has donated to the foundations of former presidents Park Chung-hee, Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung, and Roh Moo-hyun.