Lee Jun-seok: "Ahn receives inheritance from someone who died suddenly? ... That makes no sense" ... Ahn's side: "Statement goes against human decency"

Lee Jun-seok "I don't understand continuing this game using that person as an excuse"
People's Party "It's an insult to those who worked hard for regime change"
Democratic Party "No sign of empathy for humans"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, sparked controversy with his 'suicide note remark.' In criticizing Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, who vowed to honor the will of a campaign worker who lost their life on a campaign vehicle during election activities, Lee said, "Do the people who drive the People Party's campaign vehicles and buses write suicide notes before they go in?" Both the People Party and even the Democratic Party criticized the inappropriateness of his remarks.

On the 20th, Lee appeared on KBS's 'Current Affairs Diagnosis' and said, "I usually refrain from criticizing condolences, but I wish they wouldn't do that," adding, "The People Party said they would carry out the campaign honoring the deceased's will. This doesn't make sense because the deceased passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, so where would you confirm the deceased's will? Then, do the people who drive the People Party's campaign vehicles write suicide notes before they go in?"

Earlier, candidate Ahn said at the funeral of Son Pyeong-oh, head of the People Party's Nonsan, Gyeryong, and Geumsan election countermeasures committee, who died on a campaign vehicle, "I, Ahn Cheol-soo, will uphold Comrade Son's will by doing my best without yielding to any storm," and "I will never bow." After resuming campaign activities halted due to the funeral, he also said, "I have made a vow and resolution that my life will be at stake so that his sacrifice will never be in vain."

In response, Lee said, "This is not about criticizing, but the public knows well that this is logically nonsensical," and "Using that person as an excuse to continue this campaign under the pretext of honoring his will is something I don't understand, though I won't criticize it."

Shin Nari, deputy spokesperson of the People Party's central election committee, rebutted, saying, "Lee's remark that the person who died suddenly and tragically had no will is a serious defamation of the deceased's honor," adding, "According to the testimony of the bereaved family, the late regional committee head Son was happy wearing candidate Ahn Cheol-soo's campaign uniform even on the day of his death." Shin said, "Lee's outrageous remarks are not only an insult to someone who worked hard for a better regime change for the People Party but also a heinous statement that sprinkles salt on the wounds of the bereaved family," and "No matter how ruthless politics is, crossing the bounds of human decency is no different from being a beast."

She continued, "Lee Jun-seok, who makes nothing but outrageous remarks on public broadcasts after politically calculating even the unfortunate accident of another party, should immediately apologize for his disrespectful remarks and resign from his position as party leader," she demanded.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Baek Hye-ryun, senior spokesperson of the Democratic Party's election committee, also pointed out, "He uttered words that cannot be spoken even in private, on a public broadcast, in an excited tone," calling it "a disgraceful remark that abandons the basic decency of a human being before being a politician." Baek also mentioned Lee's comment that the People Party promptly took floral tribute measures after the accident, criticizing, "He shows no respect for others and completely lacks basic human empathy."

The People Power Party's election campaign camp led by Yoon Seok-youl also distanced itself from such remarks. Lee Yang-su, senior spokesperson of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters, responded to reporters' questions about Lee's remarks by saying, "The camp deeply regrets the accident involving candidate Ahn and that feeling remains unchanged," adding, "We fully recognize the value of all actions taken by candidate Ahn in his efforts for regime change."

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