'Fire Scene or Mukbang YouTube?'... Opposition Lee Jae-myung's Relentless Attack on Icheon Fire Response

Yoon Seok-yeol's Side: "Devastated by Faces Full of Laughter During Fire"
Yoo Seung-min's Side: "Where Is Lee Jae-myung Who Criticized Abe's 26-Minute Disaster Response?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The opposition parties launched a relentless offensive regarding the fact that Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, filmed a mukbang with Hwang Gyo-ik during the fire in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province in June.

On the 20th, Kim Ki-heung, deputy spokesperson for Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party's presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General, stated in a commentary, "It was recently revealed that on June 17, during the large fire at a logistics center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, Governor Lee Jae-myung recorded a 'mukbang YouTube' video with Mr. Hwang," and asked, "Did the mukbang YouTube come before the fire scene?"

Deputy spokesperson Kim criticized, "The fire occurred around 5:35 a.m. that day, and the situation was such that it was not yet extinguished and a fire rescue captain in his 50s went missing. This information was reportedly reported to Governor Lee in real time," adding, "However, watching the mukbang YouTube recorded that day is utterly appalling. Whether he wanted to promote a friendly image through the 'tteokbokki mukbang' or not, his face was full of smiles."

Lee Ki-in, spokesperson for Yoo Seung-min, former lawmaker and People Power Party presidential candidate, pointed out, "The explanation from Lee Jae-myung's side that the governor does not necessarily have to be at the scene immediately after the fire broke out is truly shocking," and asked, "Where is Lee Jae-myung who compared the Sewol ferry disaster while citing former Japanese Prime Minister Abe's 26-minute disaster response?"

Spokesperson Lee stated, "Even if he could not be at the scene immediately, what the public points out is not physical presence but 'empathy,'" and added, "If he had even once thought of the faces of firefighters fighting the flames, he would never have filmed a mukbang giggling with Hwang Gyo-ik."

Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong criticized via social media, "Candidate Lee Jae-myung does whatever he wants," and said, "Even if there is a national safety issue or firefighters are in danger, if he wants to do YouTube, he does it." Former Governor Won added, "It is very disgusting that Candidate Lee talks about responsibility to the residents," and urged, "If he has any conscience, he should sincerely apologize for the incident."

Park Soo-young, a lawmaker who served as Deputy Governor of Gyeonggi Province, pointed out, "When a major disaster like the Icheon Coupang logistics center fire occurs, it is normal for the Governor of Gyeonggi Province and the Mayor of Icheon to stop what they are doing and rush to the scene," and criticized, "It is unthinkable that Candidate Lee Jae-myung, who was the Governor of Gyeonggi Province at the time of the Icheon fire, did not rush to the scene but filmed a tteokbokki mukbang." He added, "I worked at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government for six years, but I have never seen a governor neglecting a major disaster in their jurisdiction to do something else," and scolded, "Should a person who prioritizes their presidential campaign over their responsibility as governor become president?"

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