Lee Jae-myung "Endured a Lifetime of Humiliation and Lowered My Pants... Yet They Are Talking About That Again"

Regarding the 'Pants' Remark During the Preliminary Primary: "I Was Just a Bit Annoyed"
"No Negative Attacks Beyond Performance and Policy... We Are One Team"

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, emphasized regarding the so-called 'actress scandal' that he "endured humiliation and even pulled down his pants." Lee expressed discomfort over the controversy arising in political circles over an issue that has already been verified.

In an interview on the 15th with TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory,' Lee said, "(During the verification of the actress scandal) there was one reporter representing local newspapers, one representative from the central media press corps, and then a plastic surgeon and a dermatologist (four people in total) present," adding, "It would be simple to ask the reporters who were present when I took off my pants, yet they keep writing about it."

Regarding his remark during the Democratic Party preliminary primary, "Shall I pull down my pants one more time?" he explained, "I thought I had undergone verification while experiencing a humiliating event that might happen once in a lifetime," and added, "Since the person who said that is not even from the opposition party but someone who should know better, I guess I got a bit annoyed."

However, he reflected, "I wonder why I spoke so harshly," and added, "I tend to express myself directly, which is one of the reasons some people feel uneasy about me."

He continued, "I should be serious and solemn, but in fact, I am too straightforward and can't play poker well," and said, "Now that I am getting older, I will change a lot."

Regarding criticism that he has recently shown only a defensive stance, he admitted, "I was too defensive and ended up being fouled, and those things accumulated. It was a strategic failure," and acknowledged, "There were many criticisms about my opaque attitude and loss of what it means to be 'Lee Jae-myung.'

This governor is giving a greeting at the 'Real Estate Market Act Legislation National Assembly Forum' held on the 6th at the Glad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul.
Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

However, he emphasized, "Besides achievements and policies, it is better not to engage in negative attacks," and said, "I will not be the one to strike first and cause wounds. We are one team."

Earlier, on the 5th, during a TV debate among Democratic Party presidential primary candidates, Lee sparked controversy by responding to questions about the actress scandal with the so-called 'pants' remark.

At that time, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun pointed out, "Morality is very important as a presidential virtue," and said, "Avoiding or refusing to clarify so-called scandals is inappropriate." Lee immediately retorted, "Shall I pull down my pants one more time? What do you want me to do?"

This remark drew criticism in political circles for being "excessive." The next day (the 6th), former Prime Minister Chung criticized Lee on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' saying, "He should have answered sincerely, but he showed an attitude that was so surprising it was embarrassing. It was unexpected."

Another ruling party presidential candidate, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin, also criticized on a radio broadcast, saying, "If this had happened in the general election, it would have been a 'total disaster,'" and added, "He should have used wit, but instead, he went straight-faced and made the pants remark."

Criticism also came from the opposition. Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, at a party floor meeting, called it a "shameful disgrace," and criticized, "It was an embarrassing and low-level farce debate, making the street mockery of being a sexual harassment-specialized party seem meaningless."

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