Lee Jae-myung on Controversy Over 'Yoon Camp's Shaman Involvement': "State Affairs Are Not Decisions to Be Left to Fortune"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, announced policy pledges related to Incheon City on the afternoon of the 14th at Kkum Bakery in Jung-gu, Incheon. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The Democratic Party of Korea is intensifying its criticism over the controversy surrounding the involvement of shamans in the campaign of Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party candidate. Candidate Lee said, “In 21st-century modern society, shamans should never influence such (political) decisions.”

After concluding a ‘Youth Nurse Meeting’ on the same day, Candidate Lee told reporters, “State affairs are not a personal business. It is not something to be decided by someone casually consulting fortune-telling or leaving it to fate. I want to believe that this is not true.”

Candidate Lee added, “What I want to emphasize is that state affairs, which affect the fate of 52 million people, must be decided and judged through serious deliberation, meticulous analysis by experts, and a leader’s firm philosophy and value vision. Superstition or shamanism that relies on fortune-telling must never operate in this process.” He continued, “If there are such elements, they should be thoroughly removed from now on, strengthen your own capabilities, and employ good talents around you. Please take practical measures to stabilize state affairs and prevent public anxiety. This is neither a personal business nor a matter of an individual’s fate.”

The Democratic Party also criticized the related controversy in an official statement. Spokesperson Jeon Yong-gi said in a briefing, “It is shocking that despite the national trauma caused by shamanistic interference in state affairs during the state manipulation and impeachment, a shaman with close ties was openly appointed as an advisor to the campaign headquarters.”

Spokesperson Jeon continued, “It has only been five years since the shocking fact was revealed that the president, the highest authority directly elected by the people, privately consulted ‘someone he knew’ and ran the government accordingly. Yet, People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-yeol is trying to hold the presidential election by involving shamans in his campaign, despite controversies such as Cheongong Master and the ‘king (王)’ character on the palm. We urge Candidate Yoon and the People Power Party to fully disclose the truth about the reports of shamans’ participation in the campaign headquarters without any falsehoods. They should also sincerely apologize for the shock and horror felt by the public.”

Meanwhile, a media outlet reported that a shaman named Jeon, known as ‘Geonjin Beopsa,’ has recently been stationed at the People Power Party headquarters, involved in overall campaign headquarters tasks such as scheduling and messaging. In response, the People Power Party explained, “The individual has visited the National Network Committee several times but had no opportunity to intervene in the campaign headquarters’ schedule, messaging, or personnel matters.”

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