Lee Jun-seok to Yeo Kim Ye-ji: "'Crazy' Expression Disparaging to Disabled? PC Culture Can't Be Applied Anytime"

Kim Yeji "Promise Not to Use Discriminatory Language"
Lee Junseok "Even Han Donghoon Used That Expression"

Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform New Party, rebutted Kim Ye-ji, a member of the People Power Party, who said that the expression "mentally gone" is a derogatory remark against people with mental disabilities, calling it a "figurative expression." The controversy arose after Kim Byung-joo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, referred to ruling party members as "mentally gone lawmakers" the day before.

On the 3rd, Lee stated through social media (SNS), "Using the expression 'mentally gone' as a pretext," adding, "This is a situation dealing with critical diplomatic issues, and it is not something that can be approached anytime from a politically correct (PC) perspective." He continued, "'Mentally gone' is an expression that former People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon also used in a recorded conversation with former reporter Lee Mo," and added, "If you want to switch to Han Dong-hoon's faction, start by correcting candidate Han Dong-hoon. Can't you do that?"

Lee Jun-seok, Member of the Reform New Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

This refers to the controversy sparked when Kim Byung-joo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, called ruling party members "mentally gone lawmakers." During a government questioning session the day before, Kim Byung-joo said, "The People Power Party lawmakers laughing here are the ones who described the alliance as Korea-US-Japan in their statement on the 2nd of last month," and questioned, "How can you use the term Korea-US-Japan alliance, implying an alliance with Japan, in your statement?"

In response, on the same day, Kim Ye-ji posted on SNS, urging Kim Byung-joo, "I hope that the 22nd National Assembly will not become a space where our National Assembly hates and discriminates against people with disabilities, but rather a place where the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is implemented and efforts are made for the rights of persons with disabilities," and requested, "Please promise not to use discriminatory expressions against disabilities."