Lee Junghyun in Parka, on Criticism That It "Evokes Martial Law": "A 50,000-Won Market Jacket, I Will Keep Wearing It"

Controversy Over People Power Party Nomination Chief's Outfit

Debate is raging over the khaki field jacket (parka) worn by Lee Junghyun, Chair of the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee.

On the 22nd, after criticism such as that his parka "evokes martial law" surfaced on Facebook, Lee said, "The parka I wore is taking a beating," adding, "It's nothing special. It is workwear worn by someone who rushes to the scene of a crisis."

Lee Jeonghyun, Chair of the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee, is delivering opening remarks at the 1st meeting of the Central Party Nomination Management Committee for the 9th Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections, held at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 20th. Yonhap News

He said, "Right now, the party is in trouble, and the people are in trouble. At times like this, I thought on-site workwear suits the situation better than a suit," and stressed, "I am someone who came here to work. It is time to work, not talk."

He went on, "They say that if you hate your daughter-in-law, you even ridicule her heels for looking like eggs. There really are so many fussy mothers-in-law," adding, "It's not Gucci or Pierre Cardin; it's a 50,000-won jacket I bought at a traditional market, and they call it martial law... if you're going to exaggerate that much, it's an illness." He also said, "Back when I was a broke country boy in college, I dyed that khaki work jacket black and wore it all year round. I never imagined it would become such an eyesore to people."

Lee Junghyun made a statement on the parka controversy on the 21st. Lee Junghyun Facebook

Lee said people are picking a pointless fight over his outfit and declared that, for all to see, he will keep wearing it until the local elections are over. He said, "I will wear it for another three months and ten days," adding that he will not be shaken by such quarrels.

Previously, on the 20th, Lee appeared at the first meeting of the Central Party Nomination Management Committee for the local elections, held at the People Power Party's central headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, wearing a khaki parka jumper reminiscent of a military uniform. At the meeting, regarding nominations for the June 3 local elections and the parliamentary by-elections, Lee said, "The People Power Party is now standing at the edge of a cliff," and added, "This round of nominations must serve as a complete reshuffle to make a fresh start."

Commenting on this, Seong Chihoon, deputy spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on SBS's "Pyeon Sangwook's News Briefing" on the 20th and said, "I see Chairman Lee's outfit as virtually no different from attire that endorses martial law." Deputy spokesperson Seong said this in response to the host's question, "At first glance, Chairman Lee's outfit is not exactly a military uniform, but it gives off a military-uniform-like impression. The fact that he wore that outfit to the Nomination Management Committee meeting the very next day after the ruling (on former President Yoon Suk Yeol) related to martial law... doesn't that carry some kind of message?"