Lee asks Chief Secretary to discourage 'Father's remarks'
"Kang Mingu apologizes for causing trouble"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, reportedly discouraged Kang Min-gu, Supreme Council member, from referring to him as the "father of the Democratic Party," saying, "Please stop such remarks."
Cheon Jun-ho, chief secretary to Lee, who is a close aide, said this during an appearance on CBS's "2 o'clock Live" broadcast on the 21st. Regarding the expression "father of the Democratic Party," Cheon said, "Leader Lee was also uncomfortable," adding, "He personally asked me to 'please stop that'." He further explained, "He told me to restrain excessive expressions that the public cannot sympathize with," and added, "I went and conveyed the message."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is shaking hands with Kang Min-gu, a nominated Supreme Council member, at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 19th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
Cheon explained, "Supreme Council member Kang recently lost his father. He had just finished the funeral, so it seems he used emotional language in a special situation filled with affection for his father," and added, "He himself said, 'I am sorry if I caused any inconvenience.'"
Earlier, Supreme Council member Kang, who is also the chairman of the Democratic Party's Daegu City Committee, announced the passing of his father and said, "The father of the Democratic Party is Leader Lee." Kang said, "Now that the People Power Party has become the Yeongnam Party, the Democratic Party's eastward advancement strategy must continue," and added, "As the senior 'elder' of the family, Leader Lee has continuously shown interest in the development and progress of the Yeongnam Democratic Party since right after the general election."
As the controversy grew over this remark, Supreme Council member Kang pushed back, saying, "It is like questioning why Handel is called the 'mother of music' and calling a man a mother," and explained, "The deep respect for Leader Lee is a courtesy of the Yeongnam Nam-in."
Subsequently, the People Power Party criticized the remark, saying, "It is a scene that clearly shows the reality of the Democratic Party becoming a one-man dictatorship and Lee Jae-myung’s personal faction." Ho Jun-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement, "All the unwavering praise for Leader Lee came from official Democratic Party meetings," and added, "In the National Assembly, they recklessly run without brakes, building layers of protective shields for Leader Lee, and within the party, he wields absolute power as an imperial party leader without checks and balances."
Kim Seong-yeol, chief spokesperson for the Reform New Party, also criticized on the same day, saying, "Then does that mean the mother is Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung?" He pointed out, "From floor leader Park Chan-dae’s remark that 'Leader Lee is too kind' to lawmaker Yang Moon-seok’s defense of his pet dog, there has been a daily outpouring of flattery that makes one doubt their ears." Kim added, "Who can stop the reckless actions of Leader Lee and his 'dog daughters'?" and urged, "I call for the Democratic Party to reflect on its obsession with Lee Jae-myung’s absolute power."
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