Opposition Links "Lee Jaemyung Pizza" to "Suspect" Remark

Appearance on "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator" Sparks Political Storm
Bae Hyunjin: "Not Pizza, but Suspect"
Lee Junseok: "Loss of Political Sensibility"

Political disputes have intensified over President Lee Jaemyung and his wife Kim Hyekyung's appearance on a variety show. The opposition party strongly criticized the presidential couple's appearance on "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator," stating, "Laughter should have stopped in the midst of a national disaster." The unusual participation of the president and first lady in a variety show boosted viewership ratings, but the controversy has escalated into a political dispute.

Bae Hyunjin, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, directly criticized the president and first lady's appearance on the show via social media on October 7, the day after the broadcast. Bae remarked, "I misread an article stating that Chef Kim Poong from 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' said he would make a 'Lee Jaemyung Pizza' as 'make Lee Jaemyung a suspect(?)' and clicked on it. I was so shocked that I closed the article," adding, "Their blatant hypocrisy is exhausting to watch."

President Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-kyung have sparked intensified political disputes over their appearance on a variety show. Photo by JTBC

She continued, "The lie that there was no variety show filming during the National Information Resources Service fire was quickly exposed," emphasizing, "In a disaster situation where the country was on the verge of a shutdown, the couple must clearly explain what emergency measures they took while eating from the refrigerator."

Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform Party, also commented on Facebook, "In 2014, then-Minister of Education Seo Namsoo was criticized simply for eating cup noodles in a chair with armrests right after the Sewol ferry disaster. Eleven years later, President Lee Jaemyung participated in a variety show filming while the national computer network was paralyzed. The government's sense of empathy has not recovered since that day," he pointed out.

Lee Donghun, chief spokesperson of the Reform Party, also issued a sharp commentary. He argued, "While more than 600 government computer networks were paralyzed and the public suffered severe inconvenience due to the fire, President Lee pressed ahead with filming the variety show," claiming, "It was out of political ambition to appear on the Chuseok dinner table."

He further stated, "The presidential office even claimed it was 'praiseworthy,' explaining that the fire report had already been received and that they took a brief moment to promote K-food in the meantime. Do they think the public is foolish?" He continued, "The Yoon Sukyeol administration also shielded the president with illogical arguments during crises. The current presidential office is following the same arrogance and insensitivity as back then. If a mistake was made, an apology would suffice. But instead, they only raise their voices, leaving the public unsure whether to laugh or cry."

He particularly pointed out, "The biggest problem is that the sophistry of the impeached administration is being inherited by the Lee Jaemyung government," adding, "This Chuseok, the public could not laugh in peace."