Lee Jae-myung, on Criticism of 'Bulletproof Candidacy': "Are You Afraid of a Water Gun Without Water?"

[Asia Economy Reporters Park Jun-yi and Oh Ju-yeon] Lee Jae-myung, former governor of Gyeonggi Province, who announced his candidacy for the Incheon Gyeyang-eul by-election, responded to criticism that his candidacy is "bulletproof" by emphasizing, "You keep saying bulletproof, bulletproof, but are you afraid of a water gun without water? There is no need to worry."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 11th, Lee met with reporters at the National Assembly Members' Office Building and said, "I have never done anything unfair in my life, so no matter how much the prosecution and police pressure me with investigations, I am not worried at all."

He added, "People keep saying I threaten others with an empty gun and then try to avoid the bullet, but if you have done nothing wrong, there is nothing to worry about," and questioned, "Those who have committed crimes are afraid, so why should innocent people be afraid?"

Regarding his early return just two months after narrowly losing the March presidential election, Lee said, "Supporters of the People Power Party overwhelmingly oppose my candidacy, while supporters of the Democratic Party overwhelmingly support it," and added, "Seeing the People Power Party continuously obstruct my candidacy makes me think I made the right decision to run."

Addressing criticism about running in Incheon, where he has no local ties, he said, "If it were a local election, local ties would matter, but as a former presidential candidate representing the entire nation, it is rather strange to focus on specific regional ties," and added, "This local election is for the entire Democratic Party and for the Republic of Korea, so I believe responsibility is far more important than local ties."

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