Lee Nak-yeon: "People Who Inherited a Bleak Era Now Call This Time Dictatorship" (Comprehensive)

"Kim Won-woong, as President of the Liberation Association, Can Say That Much"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 17th, Lee Nak-yeon, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, said in a memorial speech for the 45th anniversary of the late Jang Jun-ha, "This August, we face a shocking reality," adding, "People who are well aware of the dictatorial power that oppressed the teacher call the democratic government a dictatorship. Those who inherited such a bleak era now call the present a dictatorship. It is lamentable."

Candidate Lee stated, "The life of the teacher holds more than enough value for future generations to remember and commemorate," and officially proposed the construction of the 'Jang Jun-ha Memorial Hall.' He also pledged to enact the 'Jang Jun-ha Special Act' in the 21st National Assembly to uncover the truth behind Jang Jun-ha's death. Jang Jun-ha was an independence activist and democratization activist who was the first person imprisoned for violating Emergency Measure No. 1 under the Park Chung-hee regime.

On the same day, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Lee commented on the controversy surrounding Kim Won-woong, president of the Liberation Association, and his Liberation Day commemorative speech about 'cleansing pro-Japanese collaborators,' saying, "As the president of the Liberation Association, he can express that level of awareness." He added, "While there may be room for debate on individual remarks, many people agree that the remnants of pro-Japanese collaborators have not been sufficiently cleansed to this day."

Lee criticized the Future United Party's attitude in raising issues about the remarks, saying, "It is surprising that they are making a fuss without calmly examining it, just because the Liberation Association president spoke more strongly."

Regarding the amendment to the National Cemetery Act, which involves relocating the graves of pro-Japanese figures in the National Cemetery, Lee said he agrees in principle but emphasized, "There needs to be caution in selecting targets and the approach."

On the Future United Party's recent attempts to expand their base by including basic income in their party platform and strengthening outreach to Honam, Lee said, "Such so-called 'left-clicking' is something we welcome," adding, "I hope it is sincere." However, he also pointed out, "Looking at their attitude toward the Gwanghwamun rallies and such, it makes one doubt which is genuine."

Regarding the recent preference poll for the next presidential candidate, in which Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung overtook him, Lee said, "I am no exception to the decline in support for the government and ruling party," adding, "Fluctuations are part of the ups and downs of life."

On setting relations between the ruling and opposition parties if he becomes party leader, Lee said, "I am well aware of the criticism that the ruling party has acted unilaterally, but behind that is also the fact that the opposition seemed to withdraw from the National Assembly, creating a frame of unilateral rule," adding, "I hope both sides put that aside and operate the 21st National Assembly together with a mindset of starting anew."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.