Lee Jun-seok "'Ssakajiron' Always Comes Up"
"Still Called 'Young' at 40"
"Don't Blame Youth, Criticize with Specific Examples" Criticism
Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok, who hinted at the possibility of running for president, responded to criticisms calling him "rude" and "ill-mannered" by saying, "When former President Roh Moo-hyun ran for president in his late 50s, he was mocked for being 'personally immature,'" adding, "Instead of blaming my young age, point out specific examples."
On the 26th, Lee appeared on BBS Radio's "Ham In-kyung's Morning Journal" and said, "'Rudeness theory' always comes up. I will be 40 years old next year, but I am still told I am young." He added, "Simply talking about experience is something people say when building walls with younger people. President Roh Moo-hyun became president in his late 50s. Since he was a relatively young president, people said he was 'personally immature' and 'How could he act like that?' However, that was actually a reactionary movement against the anti-authoritarian approach President Roh was trying to show." He emphasized, "I do not want to succumb to such things."
Regarding the reaction from his constituency in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, to his presidential bid announcement, Lee said, "Local government heads have to give up their positions and come out, so there is some room for criticism, but members of the National Assembly do not have to, so residents of Dongtan do not need to worry." He added, "Narrowly speaking, Dongtan, and broadly speaking, progressive voters in southern Gyeonggi have no reason to refuse. Even last weekend, when I greeted people, all I heard was 'Fighting!'" Lee also explained, "People say I always cause division, but when I ask those people, 'Has Lee Jun-seok ever proposed a policy that harms women?' they cannot answer. Why is free riding considered elderly division? This is just something said by people caught up in populism to shut down such discussions."
Regarding Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, Lee said, "I know him too well, so I cannot be at odds with him," and evaluated, "Anyway, he has been preparing his messages quite well these days." He added, "I wondered if Mayor Hong still had the same vigor as before, but after watching his interview a few days ago, I thought, 'This guy's spirit is not dead.'" He continued, "Mayor Hong said, 'I am the only one in South Korea who can take on Donald Trump.' When I think about 'Why Mayor Hong?' it seems both yes and no, but at this point, that is an important message, and his ability to catch such things remains. So I thought he has prepared a lot."
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