Lee Junseok Calls Reference to Derogatory Language About Women's Bodies "Nonsense" Amid Controversy

"Asked Whether It Was a Misogynistic Remark"
Final Campaign Push Begins in Yeouido and Gangnam

On May 28, the day before early voting for the 21st presidential election, Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the New Reform Party, will hold intensive campaign events in Seoul. At noon, he will conduct a walking campaign at Yeouido Park in Seoul under the theme "Cheer Up, Korean Office Workers!"

He plans to introduce his policy pledges directly to office workers in the Yeouido area during lunchtime, which coincides with the commuting hours. In the afternoon, he will move to Gangnam Station, a major transportation hub in Seoul, to appeal for votes. He will then join Chun Haram, the standing head of the election committee, on Teheran-ro, known as a startup hub, to campaign intensively to citizens on their way home from work.

Lee has decided to focus most of his schedule in Seoul and the greater metropolitan area until the main voting day on June 3. His strategy is to select densely populated areas and communicate with as many voters as possible until the very end.

Candidate Lee Junseok Reiterates Refusal to Unify

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Photo by Kim Juseong = On May 27, 2025, Lee Junseok, the reformist presidential candidate of the New Party, reiterated his refusal to unify with Kim Moonsu, the People Power Party candidate, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and responded to reporters' questions. utzza@yna.co.kr (End)

Meanwhile, on May 27, during the third televised presidential debate, Lee rebutted criticism over his reference to derogatory language about women's bodies, calling it "nonsense."

In a radio interview before his campaign event that morning, Lee said, "When I was asked whether my remarks constituted misogyny, I felt that simply asking if it was misogyny was a way to avoid answering," adding, "Both the Democratic Party and the Democratic Labor Party have claimed to care deeply about women's rights, but when a specific case arose, they dodged the question."

Previously, during the televised debate the day before, Lee had brought up a topic related to a specific part of a woman's body in a question to Kwon Youngguk, the Democratic Labor Party's presidential candidate. While some analysts believe his remarks were aimed at the family of Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party's candidate, there has been ongoing criticism regarding the appropriateness and content of his comments.

Lee is expected to provide further clarification on this matter during a briefing from a prepared podium before his campaign event at Yeouido Park. On his Facebook page, Lee also stated, "I am convinced that candidates who cannot make a firm judgment on distorted sexual values are unqualified."

A New Reform Party official said, "It seems that other candidates are responding in an organized manner to quell criticism over their inability to answer whether Lee's remarks were misogynistic."