Sangmin Lee Criticizes Junseok Lee: "What's the Use of Being Young... His Fundamental Attitude Is Regressive"

"Strongly Recommend Receiving Character Education First"

Sangmin Lee, Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Lee Sangmin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who has one leg paralyzed due to the aftereffects of polio suffered in childhood, strongly criticized Lee Junseok, leader of the People Power Party, on the 28th, calling him a "naughty calf with horns on its butt."

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, Lee said, "What good is being young? The basic foundation is regressive and a mess," expressing his criticism.

Earlier, on the 25th, Lee Junseok had strongly criticized the nationwide protest by the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) for guaranteeing the mobility rights of the disabled via Facebook. He stated, "No matter how legitimate the claim is, if it excessively infringes on others' rights, it can receive negative evaluations," and added, "The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and Seoul Metro Corporation should actively deploy safety personnel to ensure that millions of passengers who rely on the punctuality of the Seoul subway are not held hostage by a specific group."

He also added, "Since non-disabled passengers are restricted from boarding based on door operation times during normal times, restricting disabled passengers from boarding after a certain time following a stop for door operation is not a problem at all."

In response, Lee Sangmin sharply retorted, "I strongly recommend you receive character education first."

Members of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) and Kim Ye-ji, a member of the People Power Party, are boarding Line 3 at Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 28th to participate in the subway protest "Taking the Subway on the Way to Work," demanding the guarantee of mobility rights for persons with disabilities and the inclusion of disability rights budget. / Photo by Yonhap News

Lee, a five-term lawmaker and senior member of the Democratic Party, suffered from polio around six months after birth. Due to the aftereffects, one of his legs is paralyzed, and he was classified as having a level 3 physical disability. He currently uses a wheelchair for mobility.

He has been active in legislative efforts to secure long-distance mobility rights for people with disabilities. Earlier this month, he was the main proposer of the "Partial Amendment to the Act on the Promotion of Convenience for Transportation Vulnerable Persons." This bill aims to expand the scope of operation of "special transportation means" run by local governments for transportation-vulnerable persons, thereby guaranteeing long-distance travel for people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, criticism of Lee Junseok's remarks also came from within the People Power Party.

Kim Yeji, a pianist and the first female visually impaired lawmaker from the People Power Party, attended a protest for the mobility rights of the disabled held at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Subway Line 3 on the morning of the 28th. She said, "As a politician, I deeply feel responsible. I apologize on behalf of the political circle for the lack of empathy and inappropriate choice of words."

Earlier, in an interview with 'Hankyoreh' the day before, Kim also pointed out, "(Lee Junseok's remarks) are a personal opinion, not the party's official stance or position," and criticized, "He used the word 'hostage,' which can leave a negative impact. When the party leader delivers an important message, careful consideration is necessary."

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