Lee Jaemyung: "Weren't you too relaxed on the day of martial law?"
Lee Junseok: "What about the 17 Democratic Party lawmakers who missed the vote?"
On May 27, Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, questioned Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, about whether he was truly committed to lifting martial law, referencing his absence from the vote on the resolution to demand the lifting of martial law on the day of the 12·3 Martial Law Incident. In response, candidate Lee Junseok countered, "The claim that I intentionally avoided entering is clearly false."
During the third televised debate for the 21st presidential election, held at the MBC Sangam Media Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Lee Jaemyung pointed out, "On the day of martial law, candidate Lee Junseok was drinking in Gangnam, went home to shower, and then returned. He also spent time arguing in front of the National Assembly."
He continued, "Some citizens rushed to the National Assembly wearing only slippers, and there were people who couldn't even dress properly. One female lawmaker even climbed over the wall without having time to put on makeup," intensifying his attacks on candidate Lee Junseok.
In response, candidate Lee Junseok said, "Other lawmakers were at the dinner as well. The claim that I tried to avoid entering is clearly false. There is footage showing my efforts to get inside."
He added, "Regarding climbing over the wall, there were four Democratic Party lawmakers present at the scene. The National Assembly security had blocked the wall, and there is video evidence of me continuously trying to enter. What kind of falsehood are you trying to assert?" he demanded.
The exchange between the two candidates became heated. When Lee Jaemyung asked, "Didn't someone say 'Be quiet, man,' when people tried to climb over the wall?" Lee Junseok raised his voice and replied, "By then, the vote was already over."
When Lee Jaemyung reiterated his question, "Why did you go home, shower, change clothes, and act so relaxed?" Lee Junseok strongly countered, "If that's the issue, who were the 17 Democratic Party lawmakers who also didn't enter at that time?"
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