Lee Jae-myung "It's Time to Move Forward"... Ahn Indirectly Criticizes Yoon Unification Proposal

Avoid direct criticism of An
Yoon called a "candidate who will turn back the clock through public security politics and oppressive politics"
Lee: "I will change the country into one of harmony and unity"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 13th, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed his opinion on the 'candidate unification' between Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party and Yoon Seok-youl of the People Power Party, stating, "I think it is time to put the people at the center and move toward the future." In particular, Lee again labeled Yoon’s remarks about 'clearing deep-rooted evils during his administration' as 'oppressive politics' and appealed to voters to choose him for the future.

After finishing a speech at the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market in Jeju Island, Lee met with reporters and was asked about his stance on Ahn’s proposal for unification. He said, "We are currently in a crisis situation, and overcoming this crisis and taking care of people’s livelihoods is the most important political task," expressing this view.

When asked specifically about Ahn’s proposal for unification with Yoon, he replied, "I will substitute my earlier remarks."

Lee’s comments seem to indirectly reveal his position that the unification between Yoon and Ahn is a political calculation and thus inappropriate. Also, considering the uncertain prospects of unification between Yoon Seok-youl and Ahn Cheol-soo and his strategy to target undecided voters including Ahn’s supporters through a plan for a unified government, he appears to have refrained from direct criticism.

While refraining from criticizing Ahn’s remarks, Lee maintained an offensive stance toward Yoon. In his speech at Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market, he alluded to Yoon, saying, "Do you want to return to the era of public security politics and oppressive politics, where people were punished for candlelight protests and had to hide on rooftops to freely express their opinions, as we once did?" He criticized, "In all these decades, I have never seen any dictator or violent politician openly declare that they will carry out political retaliation, strictly punish, or shut down opponents."

He especially said, "I am not afraid for my personal safety, but I fear that this country will regress into an undemocratic state where it is difficult to even breathe, and where human rights and freedom are not guaranteed." He launched a fierce attack, saying, "Thirteen years ago, the predecessor regime of the People Power Party politically retaliated against our President Roh Moo-hyun, forcing him to leave us. There is a candidate who openly declares that such things will happen again."

He also criticized Yoon’s remarks on additional deployment of THAAD as 'far-right populism,' and questioned, "Who is the person that will reduce the threat of war, revive the economy through peace, and create a Korean Peninsula of coexistence and co-prosperity through cooperation; who will strengthen the blood alliance with the United States while developing a comprehensive security alliance and expand cooperative relations with China, which cannot be ignored?"

He emphasized, "With national power, courage, and insight, we must prepare a third option for the people to have a future. I will not engage in politics of conflict or hatred," and appealed, "I will save every minute and second of that precious time, mobilize all resources without wasting any, change the lives of the people, and create a country of harmony and integration."

Regarding a question about his recent politically aggressive messages, he said, "I am pointing out facts, especially as political retaliation and public security politics are becoming blatant, and I am conveying the public’s anxiety about that."

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