Lee Jae-myung's 'Resignation Controversy' Met with Won Hee-ryong's Comment: "Gyeonggi Province Governor is Insurance, Is the Primary Election a Joke?"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] Amid ongoing debates over the resignation of Gyeonggi Province Governor and Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, former Jeju Governor and People Power Party presidential candidate Won Hee-ryong has called on Lee to withdraw from the ruling party's primary race.

On the 7th, Won posted on his Facebook page a message titled "Lee Jae-myung, is the presidential election a joke?" Won criticized, "If you are selected as the final candidate, you must resign from the position of Gyeonggi Governor. Does that mean you have no responsibility to the residents then? Claiming responsibility while knowing this is a statement that deceives the public."

Won continued, "There should be a basic common sense that all public officials must resign 90 days before the presidential election," and questioned, "Challenging the presidential election means that if you become the final candidate, you will give up the governor's position, right?" He also asked, "Does your statement yesterday mean that even if you are selected as the final presidential candidate, you will give up and return to being the Gyeonggi Governor?"

Won urged Lee, "If so, resign from the candidacy immediately." He raised his voice in criticism, saying, "Whether you win or lose the primary, you return as governor, so why are you even holding the primary? Is the presidential primary a joke?" He added, "Using the 'governor chance' during the primary or as a backup plan if defeated is merely taking out insurance," and "It shows a lack of basic courtesy to the residents of Gyeonggi Province and the public."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the "Policy Agreement Ceremony for Joint Development between Gyeonggi Province and Daejeon City" held on the afternoon of the 2nd at Daejeon Metropolitan City Hall in Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

This was interpreted as a response to Lee's statement the previous day, when he was continuously criticized by other ruling party candidates over maintaining his governor position. Lee said, "If I am forced to choose between completing the primary and keeping the governor position, I would choose to keep the governor position." On the 6th, Lee made this remark during a meeting with reporters after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine at the Paldal District Health Center in Suwon City.

On that day, Lee said, "The governor position is a responsibility entrusted to me by 13.8 million residents of Gyeonggi Province, so I must do my best," and added, "Does it make sense to resign just because it is politically disadvantageous and to campaign more?" Additionally, Min Hyung-bae, a lawmaker from Lee's campaign, stated, "If resignation from the governor position is necessary, then resignation from the National Assembly should also be considered," and expressed the opinion, "Political neutrality of local leaders is necessary, but it should be limited to not abusing their position."

However, regarding Lee's stance, the camp of former Democratic Party leader and presidential contender Lee Nak-yeon, who forms the two-strong presidential race within the Democratic Party, pressured, "Rather, withdraw from the primary." Bae Jae-jung, spokesperson for Lee Nak-yeon's camp, criticized, "We urge you to focus solely on Gyeonggi Province administration for the safety of Gyeonggi residents. That is the courtesy owed to the residents," and added, "Now even the party's election commission chair has stepped in. If you truly care about Gyeonggi Province administration, show the attitude of a responsible public official."

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