Lee on "Taxi is the city's coal mine" remark... Lee Jun-seok says "There is no distinction between jobs"

Lee's "Taxi is the city's coal mine" remark controversy
Lee Jun-seok: "Distorted perception... Democratic Party should be careful with expressions"

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, criticized the remarks made by Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, questioned Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, who said "taxis are the coal mines of the city," asking, "Where is the distinction between jobs?"

On the 16th, Lee posted on his Facebook, saying, "I don't know where the distinction between jobs lies, nor what similarities the taxi industry has with coal mines," and added, "I wonder if Candidate Lee Jae-myung has a very distorted perception of both mining and the taxi industry," sharply criticizing him.

Targeting the Democratic Party, Lee directly attacked, "Considering the unfortunate deaths of martyrs Choi Woo-gi and Lim Jeong-nam, who protested against platform companies entering the taxi business, I hope the Democratic Party would be more careful with their expressions." The individuals he mentioned are those who made extreme choices protesting platform companies entering the taxi business, and the taxi industry sometimes refers to them as 'martyrs.'

He then pointed at Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, saying, "Like me, Leader Song has also driven a taxi, so I hope he can help correct Candidate Lee Jae-myung's perception."

Jang Soon-chil, full-time deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters, also released a statement that afternoon, criticizing, "Candidate Lee's vulgar perception of occupations is a chronic disease that is hard to fix." He continued, "Candidate Lee should immediately apologize to taxi workers and miners. I hope he stops his shameless false statements and hypocritical actions in front of the public."

Meanwhile, earlier that day, Candidate Lee met with members of the National Private Taxi Mutual Aid Association in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, saying, "Taxis are the coal mines of the city," and added, "When there are no jobs, the last resort is to become a taxi driver, but these days even that path seems blocked. A difficult situation is unfolding for everyone."

Candidate Lee also criticized platform companies introducing taxi services as "unfair competition," stating, "Platform companies should only operate platforms, but they pick the successful ones and operate them directly. They are doing the same with taxi calls. There is suspicion that they dispatch directly or to affiliated companies."

He emphasized, "My opinion is clear," saying, "(Taxis) are a quasi-public transportation means and an important livelihood for those working in the taxi industry, but they are also the public's feet used by the people."

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