Song Young-gil and Lee Jun-seok Campaign Vigorously in Jeju... Heated Debate Over Political Labeling

Published 04 Mar.2022 20:47(KST)

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won] On the 4th, when early voting began with five days left until the 20th presidential election, the leaders of the two major parties engaged in all-out campaigns in Jeju, exchanging heated debates over color politics.

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who visited the Jeju 4.3 Peace Park, targeted People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, opening fire by saying, “It is very concerning to push the ruling party, the Democratic Party, into color politics and to show the perspective of a public security prosecutor.”

Song continued, “What worries us is the tragedy of 4.3, which was a painful part of our history where, during the process of national division, black-and-white logic was applied, and innocent people were labeled as communists or leftists and massacred,” adding, “It is very concerning that the candidate for the 21st-century president of the Republic of Korea, who should heal this, is pushing the ruling party, the Democratic Party, into color politics by labeling it as 'left-wing' and showing the perspective of a public security prosecutor.” He appealed, “Please cast your vote for candidate Lee Jae-myung so that the Republic of Korea can move forward properly.”

Song also said, “In the Republic of Korea, where the people should be united and painful wounds healed, it is undesirable to bring up the color politics of the past public security prosecutor style again, no matter how much it is to gain votes,” adding, “Since the 4.3 Peace Park is a place to heal our pain and elevate it to peace, we must comfort the spirits of 4.3 beyond party lines and heal painful wounds through national reconciliation and cooperation.”

At the subsequent campaign rally in Seogwipo, Song Young-gil said, “The president is not a king but a worker. Candidate Yoon carries a prince written on his palm, receives advice from someone, and becoming president is not about performing shamanistic rituals with cowhide. The president is a representative worker who works for the people,” appealing, “Candidate Lee Jae-myung did a really good job while serving as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province.”

He added, “Candidate Lee also has shortcomings, flaws, and wounds,” emphasizing, “But he cannot be compared to candidate Yoon, who is embroiled in criminal acts involving himself, his wife, and mother-in-law.”

Meanwhile, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, who visited Jeju after early voting in Gwangju, responded to Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil’s color politics remarks at a press conference held at Jeju Airport after the campaign, saying, “Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol was not a public security prosecutor but a special investigation prosecutor who investigated bad people. Mentioning color politics itself is ideological aggression, a typical political attack, and a statement that does not fit the current era.”

At campaign rallies in Seogwipo Oil Market and Jeju City Nohyeong-dong, Lee Jun-seok said, “Candidate Yoon is different from previous conservative candidates,” and appealed with the image of a clean political newcomer, saying, “He has no debts to the political world and owes only the people, so he governs with the people in mind.”

Lee Jun-seok also did not hesitate to harshly criticize candidate Lee Jae-myung, calling him a ‘beef thief.’ “There is an old saying from our elders: ‘Harmony in the family leads to success in everything.’ Does candidate Lee’s family look harmonious?” he pointed out.

He added, “There is also a saying that a needle thief becomes a cow thief. If candidate Lee bought beef to grill and eat at home, wouldn’t that make him a beef thief?” and targeted him by saying, “If you entrust the country’s important affairs to a beef thief, will your hard-earned tax money be used properly? Can you feel assured?”