Lee's "Even if caught operating past midnight, will be pardoned" remark... Yoon Hee-sook fiercely criticizes, "Acts like a king"

Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate, greeting Anyang citizens / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Yoon Hee-sook, former member of the People Power Party, criticized Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, saying, "He must think he is some kind of king," after Lee said, "If I am elected, I will pardon those caught operating businesses until midnight."

On the 20th, Yoon posted on her Facebook, "He (the candidate) makes us laugh by talking about pardons as if his election is a national celebration," she said.

Earlier, on the 18th, Lee made a statement regarding the government's new quarantine guidelines, which extended business operating hours from 9 PM to 10 PM. He said, "If I am elected, I will pardon those who operate businesses until midnight."

At the time, Lee criticized the government's new quarantine guidelines during a campaign rally at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, saying, "I was so frustrated that I wanted to say, 'Those who have received the third vaccine dose can operate businesses until midnight, and if caught, they will all be pardoned,' but my aides told me absolutely not to say that." He added, "After the election on March 9, I will take such measures on March 10."

Regarding this, Yoon pointed out, "He says pardons will come regardless of laws if he is elected," and added, "What authority would he have on March 10, right after the election? The presidential inauguration is on May 10." She also said, "The presidential race is not over yet, so he should get a grip."

Yoon criticized, "Many citizens have expressed doubts about the direction of quarantine measures, but Lee Jae-myung supported the government without a word until he became a presidential candidate, or until his approval ratings dropped," and added, "He is someone who only shows consistency in flip-flopping obviously."

She continued, "Seeing this person boast about ignoring his aides’ advice and insisting on speaking makes me feel sorry for the aides," and said, "In any campaign, the aides who work hard are the pillars, but the leader not only acts as the opposition campaign’s chief with all sorts of scandals but now even makes his own aides drink the water."

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