Lee Jae-myung "Strong Regret Over Russia's Invasion of Ukraine... Government Must Ensure Safety of Korean Residents"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed "strong regret" on the 24th regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On the same day, Lee attended the "Democratic Party Emergency Security and Economic Joint Meeting" held at the Yeouido party headquarters and stated, "The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine must be respected."

He urged, "I call on the relevant countries to urgently engage in dialogue and make every effort to achieve a peaceful resolution. Above all, the safety of our overseas Koreans is paramount," and requested, "The government should make thorough efforts to ensure the safety of our citizens."

He continued, "We must minimize the damage to companies and the uncertainties affecting the domestic economy. In preparation for a prolonged crisis, we need to reassess supply chains for raw materials such as crude oil and thoroughly prepare for the impact on food security," adding, "It is necessary to identify the difficulties and current issues faced by our companies affected by economic sanctions. Special attention should be given to the materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) industry, which faces significant supply concerns, to ensure that companies do not experience operational difficulties."

He particularly mentioned, "Ukraine is no longer a regional conflict but a situation where a new Cold War is feared. The new Cold War structure will also affect the peace regime on the Korean Peninsula," emphasizing, "Therefore, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are even more important."

He also targeted Yoon Seok-youl, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, saying, "What a leader must do is to protect peace. Politicizing security issues such as the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) preemptive strike is a self-inflicted crisis," and criticized, "The next president needs to be a competent security and economic leader who can overcome such crises. A capable government that turns global crises into opportunities is urgently needed."

He concluded, "Even if you win a war, it is mutual destruction. Peace is economy, and peace is the answer," stressing, "I will become a strong and capable security president who protects peace and will definitely safeguard the lives and property of the people."

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