Criticism of "Low Education and Low Income Supporters of the Ruling Party" Remarks... Lee Jae-myung Calls It a "Distorted Attack"

The day before on a YouTube broadcast, claimed "There are many People Power Party supporters among the low-education and low-income groups"
Park Yong-jin and Kang Hoon-sik said, "We must not engage in divisive, dichotomous politics"
Kim Ki-hyun of the People Power Party said, "It is utterly vulgar to label individuals as low-education or low-income based on personal tendencies"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's party leader candidate, is delivering a policy presentation at the open debate for party leader candidates hosted by the Democratic Party of Korea's National Integration Political Change Promotion Committee held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 29th. Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, claimed that the media is distorting his remarks amid controversy over his comments about 'low-education and low-income groups supporting the People Power Party.'

On the day, Lee shared a news report titled "6 out of 10 people with a monthly income below 2 million won voted for Yoon" on his social media (SNS), and refuted criticism against him by saying, "It is unfortunate, but this is the actual reality."

The report contained results from a recent presidential election poll commissioned by the East Asia Institute (EAI) to Korea Research, showing that low-income and low-education voters supported Yoon Seok-yeol, then the People Power Party candidate, more than Lee Jae-myung.

He added, "The People Power government is cutting support for ordinary citizens, such as local currency and job budgets, while giving tax cuts to the super-rich and large corporations," and described it as "a regrettable reality where some support a party that harms them."

He also pointed out, "This reality is largely the responsibility of some media outlets that distort and manipulate information," and said, "Even now, they distort and attack me."

Earlier, on the 29th, Lee mentioned in a YouTube broadcast that "there are many People Power Party supporters among low-education and low-income groups," and said, "It is an unfortunate reality, but it is due to the media environment."

Lee's remarks became a target of criticism both inside and outside the party. Park Yong-jin, who is competing with Lee for the Democratic Party leadership, criticized on SNS, saying, "Claiming that low-education and low-income groups support the People Power Party because of the media environment is a blatant sense of superiority and a political division of the people based on political orientation."

He added, "Even looking at the polling statistics, the claim that low-education and poor citizens are easily influenced by the media while others are not does not correspond to the actual facts," and said, "Politics that disparage supporters of the opposing side must end."

Kang Hoon-sik, another Democratic Party leadership candidate, also argued on SNS, "We should not only criticize the People Power Party's division and hatred but also reflect on the dichotomous politics that occasionally emerge from us."

The People Power Party also opposed Lee's remarks. Kim Ki-hyun, a People Power Party lawmaker, criticized on SNS, saying, "The future of the Democratic Party is also bleak," and added, "It is utterly vulgar to talk about individuals' political tendencies by labeling them as low-education or low-income."

He further pointed out, "The remark that there are many People Power Party supporters among low-education and low-income groups is a typical act of division," and said, "Instead of reflecting and introspecting after consecutive defeats in the presidential and local elections, they openly disregard the people."

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