Sangmin Lee: "Congratulatory Message to Yoon, Like Sending Gift Money to a Departed Woman"

"Causing Trouble in Moon Administration and Becoming Opposition Party's Presidential Candidate, Inner Feelings Must Be Bitter"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Regarding the Blue House not issuing an official congratulatory message to Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, Lee Sang-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "It's like wanting to send a congratulatory gift when a former lover sends a wedding invitation later."

On the 9th, Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Hanpan Seungbu' and said, "To be honest, as a member of the Democratic Party, he was the Prosecutor General under the Moon Jae-in administration, but since he caused trouble within the government and then went to the opposition party and became a presidential candidate, my true feelings are bitter."

Lee Jae-oh, a senior advisor of the People Power Party who appeared on the broadcast that day, pointed out that it is customary for the Blue House to send congratulatory messages to opposition party presidential candidates, saying, "It is originally a matter of courtesy," and "When the incumbent president's next presidential candidate is selected, whether from the ruling or opposition party, it is customary to send a congratulatory message."

In response, Lee explained, "So probably they were going to send a congratulatory flower arrangement, but the schedule between candidate Yoon Seok-yeol and the Blue House did not align, so it was just delayed. It seems that if the schedule is set even tomorrow, they plan to do it."

He added, "I apologize for using the expression 'running away,' but from our perspective, since he ran away and went to the opposition party and became a presidential candidate, my true feelings are bitter," and said, "Still, (regarding becoming the opposition party's presidential candidate) a message and a congratulatory flower arrangement should be sent as a politician."

Meanwhile, it is known that on the 8th, the Blue House attempted to deliver a congratulatory flower arrangement in the name of President Moon Jae-in to candidate Yoon, but it was unsuccessful due to Yoon's schedule. Lee Cheol-hee, the Blue House senior secretary for political affairs, planned to meet candidate Yoon to congratulate him on his nomination and deliver the flower arrangement, but since Yoon was unable to meet him that day, he asked for understanding and canceled the meeting.

The Blue House intends to deliver congratulatory flower arrangements to opposition candidates, including candidate Yoon, within this week. However, since Yoon is reportedly planning to visit Gwangju and Bongha Village on the 10th and 11th, there are expectations that a meeting this week will be difficult to arrange.

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