Lee Nak-yeon: "Lee Jae-myung's 'US Occupation Forces' Remark Is Not Wrong, But... Must Consider the 'Aftermath'"

On the afternoon of the 4th, former leader Lee Nak-yeon is speaking at the Democratic Party's presidential primary event "National Interview" held at the CJB Convention Center in Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] Former Democratic Party leader and presidential candidate Lee Nak-yeon subtly criticized Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung's so-called 'U.S. occupation forces' remark on the 5th, saying, "Politicians should consider the impact their words may have."

In an interview on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that day, Lee Nak-yeon said of Lee Jae-myung's remark, "It is not academically incorrect," but added, "Leaders need to think about how their words will be received."

Regarding the host's comment that "some people support Lee Jae-myung because he is straightforward and honest," he responded, "It is true that many party members are concerned about stability," and said, "The true nature of that will gradually become clear."

When asked about the competitiveness gap with Lee Jae-myung, he replied, "Lee seems to be gradually retreating from his flagship policy of basic income," and added, "I am continuing to promote the fundamental brand of the 'New Welfare System.'"

This is interpreted as a critique of Lee Jae-myung's recent step back from the basic income policy, where he said, "I cannot say it is the number one or most important pledge."

Regarding the possibility of unification with another ruling party presidential candidate, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, he explained, "We agreed on the need to cooperate, but no methods were discussed," and added, "I am not considering the commonly imagined ways."

Meanwhile, Lee Jae-myung previously mentioned on the 1st during a visit to his hometown, Andong in Gyeongbuk, at the 'Yi Yuksa Literature Museum,' that "Unlike other countries at the stage of government establishment, South Korea failed to purge pro-Japanese collaborators, and these forces collaborated with the U.S. occupation forces to maintain the same ruling system."

In response, leading opposition presidential candidate former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl strongly criticized the remark. On the 4th, Yoon wrote on his Facebook, "'The U.S. military is an occupying force, and the liberating force is the South Korean military'?this absurd and outrageous falsehood was also echoed by the ruling party's next leading candidate, Governor Lee Jae-myung," and condemned it as "an unacceptable distortion of history."

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