Lee Jun-seok Faces Fierce Criticism Over 'Mr. Linton'... "Clear Racial Discrimination"

"If It Were the US, It Would Be Grounds for Expulsion Due to Racism"
In Yohan: "Born in Honam, Feeling Hurt... Will Meet Again"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok's remarks in English to In Yo-han, the Innovation Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, have sparked growing controversy.

Jang Hye-young, a Justice Party lawmaker, called it "crossing the line mockery and racial discrimination" and urged Lee to apologize. On the 6th, Jang pointed out on her social media (SNS), "No matter how different political views are, blatant foreigner treatment using language is crossing the line mockery and racial discrimination."

Jang added, "Lee should acknowledge his recklessness and apologize," and "In our already diversified society, which will become even more so in the future, such remarks should not be publicly tolerated."

Na Jong-ho, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale University in the U.S., also emphasized, "He is unqualified as a politician and should publicly apologize." On the 5th, Professor Na explained on SNS, "'You are different from us.' The easiest way to hurt Asian Americans born and raised in the U.S. is to say 'Go back to your country.' It is actually the most commonly used expression of racial discrimination against Asian Americans."

He continued, "Lee’s addressing Chairman In as 'Mr. Linton' in English is a clear racial discrimination in this context," and "If a prominent American politician publicly spoke to a second-generation Korean American in Korean, mocking them because they are Korean American, that person would be immediately expelled for racial discrimination."

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok (left) and In Yo-han, chairman of the People Power Party Innovation Committee. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 4th, Lee Jun-seok refused to meet in Korean and called Chairman In, who came to a talk concert in Busan to meet him, "Mr. Linton" in English. Chairman In’s English name is John Alderman Linton, and he became the first 'special naturalized citizen' of South Korea in March 2012.

Lee said, "Am I the patient? Did I come here today as a doctor?" and "The real patient is in Seoul. Go talk to him. He needs help." Although he did not directly specify who the 'patient' was, it was interpreted as referring to President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Lee added, "The reason I spoke to Dr. In Yo-han in English is that although he has become one of us, at present he does not seem like one of us," and "Please stand on our side. Speak in the same language as us. Speak in the language of democracy, please."

Chairman In, the person involved, expressed some hurt feelings but said he would embrace Lee until the end. In an interview with MBN on the 5th, he said, "My grandmother was born in Mokpo in 1899, my father was born in Gunsan in 1926, and I was also born in Jeolla Province. I felt a little hurt."

Regarding Lee, he said, "He is a person with a very troubled heart," and "He was groaning while riding the train up here. I thought about how to ease his heart. Although I failed this time, I will meet him again and try to ease it again."