Lee Jae-myung on "Jeon Du-hwan's Merits and Demerits Coexist"... Justice Party Says "What's the Difference with Yoon? Stop the Nonsense"

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung raised his hand to greet supporters after visiting the Dabudong War Memorial in Chilgok County, Gyeongbuk, the site of the fiercest battles of the Korean War on the 11th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] The Justice Party criticized Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, for his remark that "there are both merits and demerits in Jeon Du-hwan, Park Chung-hee, and Lee Seung-man."

On the 11th, Justice Party spokesperson Oh Seung-jae stated in a commentary, "Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, said that 'Jeon Du-hwan also has both merits and demerits,' and that utilizing the Three Lows Boom well to keep the economy functioning properly was an achievement," adding, "We cannot help but ask what difference there is from Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party presidential candidate, who said Jeon Du-hwan did well in politics except for the coup and the May 18 Gwangju incident."

Spokesperson Oh said, "In Honam, people said they cannot entrust the Republic of Korea to someone who praises Jeon Du-hwan, the main culprit of the Gwangju massacre, yet in Yeongnam, trying to get even one more vote, calling the economic growth built by workers' blood and sweat a merit of military dictatorship is absurd," and pointed out, "Now that the resentment and anger of the May Gwangju spirits and bereaved families toward Jeon Du-hwan, who passed away without a single apology, have not subsided, discussing the 'merits and demerits of Jeon Du-hwan' itself is extremely inappropriate and utterly embarrassing."

Oh continued, "Candidate Lee Jae-myung should immediately retract his remarks about the 'merits and demerits of Jeon Du-hwan, Park Chung-hee, and Lee Seung-man' and apologize to the May Gwangju victims and citizens," and criticized, "We hope he stops this 'anything goes' talk where he says one thing here and another there."

He raised his voice in criticism, saying, "As the candidate said, we cannot entrust the Republic of Korea to someone who praises Jeon Du-hwan, the main culprit of the Gwangju massacre," and "We politely refuse the excuse that he truly believes Jeon Du-hwan revived the economy," and "It is also clear that citizens' lives are not so leisurely as to understand the context of the candidate's remarks."

Earlier that day, while visiting the Dabudong War Memorial in Chilgok, Gyeongbuk, candidate Lee said, "Jeon Du-hwan also has both merits and demerits. Overall, it is true that Jeon Du-hwan made an achievement by utilizing the Three Lows Boom well to prevent the economy from collapsing and to keep it functioning properly." However, he also said, "Acts that harm citizens' lives with the guns entrusted by the people are unforgivable under any circumstances and must never be repeated as a serious crime."

Meanwhile, candidate Yoon apologized after receiving criticism for saying on October 10, "Many say that except for the military coup and the May 18 incident, President Jeon Du-hwan did well in politics. Even people in Honam say such things." In response, candidate Lee criticized Yoon on the 28th of last month during a visit to Gwangju, saying, "Someone who praises Jeon Du-hwan, the main culprit of the Gwangju massacre, and does not respect the people cannot lead the Republic of Korea."

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