Lee "I will make the Democratic Party of Lee Jae-myung"... Reflects and Apologizes for Controversies Including Swearing

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 20th, "I will make it not Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party, but the Democratic Party of Lee Jae-myung."

On the same day, at Hwajisi Market in Nonsan, Chungnam, Lee said in an impromptu speech, "You entrusted your future fate entirely, but I feel I have not fully embraced it. I also think I have gradually been confined within the large vessel called the Democratic Party."

He emphasized, "With the spirit of throwing my whole body into the sea, I will give up everything and win next year's presidential election so that this country does not regress and does not return to the corrupt forces. I will also restart the campaign committee and the party, which are only big in size but fail to do their job properly."

Lee said, "Former President Roh Moo-hyun said, 'The last bastion of democracy is the united power of awakened citizens.' What was the power that swept through Europe and Asia with 100,000 Mongol soldiers? Speed, and on top of that, united power." He continued, "Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party will not engage in fraud or collusion. We will not patch things up in the name of unity," and added, "We will thoroughly clean out this corrupt establishment that talks as if compromising with corruption is unity, and create a living and fair country."

On the same day, Lee also called for self-reflection and reform of the party and campaign committee on his Facebook. He said, "I first look back on myself to understand why we lost the people's trust," and added, "Instead of explanations for slander and controversies, sincere reflection and apology should have come first."

He said, "Regarding the Daejang-dong scandal, I only emphasized the part where I returned much of the profits to the citizens, thinking 'It's enough if I am clean,' but I was insufficient in understanding the public's disillusionment over unfair gains," and said, "'I expected to bring about change and innovation in the Democratic Party with Lee Jae-myung's uniqueness and prepare for a new era, but rather Lee Jae-myung has become the Democratic Party'?I am at a loss for words over this criticism." He continued, "My shortcomings have hurt many people," and said, "I am sorry. I deeply apologize."

Lee said, "As a major ruling party, the Democratic Party failed to properly steer the direction on real estate, compensation for small business owners, and socio-economic reforms," and added, "We failed to respond promptly to the people's demands and the challenges of the times. We were too eager to cover up the flaws of party members." He emphasized, "Although I have been involved in politics on the margins of the party, I cannot avoid the responsibility as the party's presidential candidate."

He said, "Considering the difficult lives of the people and the danger of historical regression, excuses, stubbornness, and vacillation are now luxuries," and added, "I will return to the mindset I had when I first started politics and start anew. I hope our Democratic Party will also change drastically, just like my desperate heart."

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