Lee Jae Myung: "U.S. Sensitive Country Designation Is a Complete Diplomatic Failure and Disaster"

Lee Criticizes Government's Lack of Awareness on Sensitive Country Designation in January

Lee Jae Myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized the South Korean government regarding the U.S. government's designation of South Korea as a sensitive country, calling it "a complete diplomatic failure, a disaster, and a government failure."

Lee Jae Myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. 2025.3.17 Photo by Kim Hyun Min

At the Supreme Council meeting of the Democratic Party held at the National Assembly in Yeouido on the 17th, Lee stated, "We were designated as a sensitive country in January, but the government was completely unaware." He continued, "Even after the media reported on it and I asked them to check, the response was still that it was undecided or unknown. Is this really a government?" he criticized.

Lee said, "Exaggerated rhetoric about nuclear armament and the declaration of martial law without any prior notice to our allies have fostered distrust in South Korea's national system, which seems to have ultimately resulted in the sensitive country designation."

He was especially critical of the nuclear armament arguments coming from the conservative camp. He stated, "To pursue nuclear armament, we would have to break the nuclear agreement with the United States, withdraw from the International Atomic Energy Agency, and accept international economic sanctions, resigning ourselves to a life like North Korea's." He added, "I want to ask the public whether they really believe we should pursue nuclear armament even at the cost of such isolation like North Korea."

Lee emphasized, "Even now, the government must come to its senses and work swiftly to restore the situation. The only way to resolve this crisis is to return South Korea to a normal state."

He also said, "We must prove the strength of our democratic system and demonstrate unwavering trust in the South Korea-U.S. alliance. The government must clearly identify the circumstances behind the designation and work quickly to have it lifted," he stressed.

Lee urged the ruling party to promptly address pension reform and the supplementary budget. He said, "Regarding pension reform, the Democratic Party has accepted public dissatisfaction and resistance, and has made concessions by lowering the income replacement rate (the amount received) from 45% to 43%. However, whenever the opposition concedes, the ruling party sets new conditions, and even when we concede again, they set more conditions," he criticized.

He said, "The ruling party should at least have the right attitude. This is why people say you are not the ruling party but a 'scattered party.'" He added sarcastically, "At this rate, you might end up going to sea and becoming a pirate party."

Regarding the supplementary budget, he also said, "Benjamin Franklin said, 'Delay is the deadliest form of denial.' Since everyone agrees on the need for a supplementary budget, it should be processed swiftly."