Choo Mi Ae criticizes Junseok Lee's debate remarks:
"At forty, you remain immature"
Condemns use of misogynistic language and calls for reflection
Choo Mi Ae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized Junseok Lee, the Reform New Party presidential candidate, for his remarks during a televised debate.
On May 28, Choo posted on her Facebook account under the title "An Immature Forty-Year-Old," saying, "With your chopsticks, you have plunged your future into the gutter. You have brought shame to politics." She further criticized Lee, stating, "At forty, one is said to be free from delusions, but you remain immature."
Choo also referred to Lee's supporters as 'Juncheonji' (a portmanteau of Junseok Lee and Shincheonji), and harshly condemned him by saying, "You issue commands using misogynistic language, and with that tongue, you have trampled on your own future as well."
During the third presidential debate held the previous day, Lee cited explicit expressions related to women's bodies and asked Kwon Youngguk, the Democratic Labor Party candidate, "By the standards of the Democratic Labor Party, does this constitute misogyny?" He then sought agreement from Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party candidate, which further fueled the controversy.
In response to the controversy, Lee explained on social media that day, "I presented a shocking case from the internet to two candidates who have consistently raised their voices on issues of gender discrimination and hate, and asked for their positions." He added, "I used refined language considering it was a broadcast, but both candidates avoided answering." Lee claimed, "I was pointing out the double standard in the progressive camp, which claims to oppose hate speech but remains silent when it comes to issues within their own ranks."
The Democratic Party of Korea criticized Lee's remarks as "an act of violence that cannot be tolerated," and some lawmakers even called for his resignation. Lee Soyoung, a Democratic Party lawmaker, wrote on Facebook, "Candidate Junseok Lee broadcast violent expressions on public television under the guise of quoting others. His remarks are clearly violent, and he must apologize to the public." Ko Minjung, another lawmaker, wrote on Facebook, "All I saw in Junseok Lee was hatred and contempt. Through this election, he may have increased his presence, but it only reaffirmed that he is more like a poisonous mushroom than a beacon of hope for the future."
Shin Dongwook, spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized Lee's remarks as "inappropriate" during a briefing at the party's central office in Yeouido, Seoul, that day. Kim Yongtae, acting chairman of the People Power Party's emergency committee, told reporters after a signing ceremony at the New Future Democratic Party office in Yeouido, Seoul, "If Junseok Lee had been next to me, as he once said to me, he would have been scolded. However, before criticizing Junseok Lee, I think those who first made such remarks should also be criticized."
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