Controversy over 'English Communication' Lee Jun-seok: "In Yo-han Seems Unaware of the Connotation of Backroom Politics"

Former Representative Lee Jun-seok, BBS Radio Interview
Refuses to Apologize for 'Racial Discrimination' Controversy in English Conversation

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok refused to apologize on the 15th for causing a controversy over 'racial discrimination' by speaking in English to Innovation Committee Chairman In Yo-han, saying, "People do not understand how strong the word 'racist' is. Calling someone a racist just because they tried to communicate in English is atrocious."

In an interview with BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' that day, Lee said, "I spoke to Chairman In in English because he is bilingual and I can speak English to some extent, but to interpret this as racial discrimination is wrong," adding, "People seem to use the word 'racial discrimination' without understanding how heavy it is."

Lee also said, "I studied abroad too, and Chairman In thinks in English and speaks in Korean, which is appropriate," citing Chairman In's mention of a 'closed-door conversation' as evidence. Earlier, on the 13th, Chairman In named Lee as the person he most wanted to meet one-on-one in an interview with JTBC, saying, "I want to meet former leader Lee in a closed room without the media to clear up misunderstandings."

Lee said, "Chairman In said he wants to meet and talk with Lee Jun-seok in a closed room, but I think he doesn't fully understand the connotation of 'closed-door politics,'" adding, "I think he means 'let's talk frankly and privately,' but when you put it in writing, it sounds chilling. Doesn't it make me seem like someone who wants to make a backdoor deal?"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is answering reporters' questions at Dongdaegu Station on the 9th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He also mentioned the time he was criticized for ableism after criticizing the protest methods of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against the Disabled (Jeonjangyeon) during their morning commute protests.

He said, "If saying 'Jeonjangyeon blocking the subway is a wrong protest method' is labeled as hate, then no criticism can be made against Jeonjangyeon in the future," adding, "I would say the same if veterans' groups or conservative groups blocked the subway. Would that mean I hate conservatives? If that happens, social discourse itself will be stifled."

He also cited President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Africa discrimination' controversy as an example. In September 2021, then People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon was criticized for saying something to the effect of "manual labor is something Africans do."

Lee said, "If I start nitpicking people's words by the same standard, politics will become petty," adding, "In the past, President Yoon said, 'This kind of manual labor is something done in Africa.' By that logic, it's Africa discrimination, but I think people of that generation might say that, so I just let it go without pointing it out."

He continued, "The old expression 'mute' is ableist, and if you start picking on words like that one by one, there will be no words left to use," adding, "Of course, as society progresses, it's right to be careful with such expressions, but if I start catching people by that standard, everyone will have a hard time."