Lee Jae-myung's First Schedule After Returning to the Assembly is Visiting the Memorial Altar for Families with Disabilities... Keeping Distance from Political Issues

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Myunghwan] Lee Jae-myung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who was elected in the National Assembly by-election, visited the memorial altar for people with developmental and severe disabilities as his first schedule after returning to the National Assembly on the 7th.

On that day, Lee visited the memorial altar set up at Samgak Station on Subway Line 4 in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to pay respects and met with representatives of disability organizations. Lee and the representatives discussed for about 50 minutes ways to improve social awareness of people with disabilities and institutional support measures.

The disability organizations appealed for improved social awareness of people with developmental disabilities and strengthened national responsibility. In response, Lee promised to find ways to improve awareness and systems related to people with disabilities.

The memorial altar Lee visited was established following a recent incident where a 6-year-old son receiving developmental disability treatment and his mother in her 40s took extreme measures together at their home.

After being elected in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul by-election, Lee visited Yeouido for the first time but chose to visit the memorial altar instead of attending the Democratic Party members' meeting held at the National Assembly at the same time. Amid internal 'reform debates' over responsibility for the local election defeat, it appears Lee distanced himself from the members' meeting as attending it as a key figure could only expose party conflicts.

When asked about the possibility of running for the next party leadership during his arrival at the National Assembly that day, Lee said, "As a first-term member of the National Assembly and a 0.5-term member elected in a by-election, I feel a heavy responsibility. It seems there is a lot to be done," adding, "There is still plenty of time before the party convention," withholding further comments.

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