An Min-seok: "It is not appropriate to take issue with Lee's stock purchase"

Internal Betrayal 'Galchi Politics' Is a "Serious Misconduct"
Lee Jae-myung's Election Law Violation Trial Starts on the 18th, Likely to End in 'Not Guilty'

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 18th, Ahn Min-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, responded to criticism regarding Lee Jae-myung's purchase of defense industry stocks, saying, "Stocks are part of a portfolio to manage and grow assets," and added, "It is not reasonable to take issue with buying stocks two months after the presidential election ended."

Ahn Min-seok, member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the same day, Ahn appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and rebutted fellow party member Jeon Jae-soo's comment from the previous day that Lee's stock transactions were "disappointing."

Ahn began by saying, "I really cherish and like Representative Jeon," then stated, "Nowadays, you don't even have to go to the stock exchange floor to buy stocks; you can just invest using your phone. Criticizing it like Representative Jeon does is too much."

Regarding the issue that Lee, a member of the National Defense Committee, owned stocks in defense companies, Ahn emphasized, "On May 2, when the stocks were purchased, Lee had not yet decided to run for the National Assembly. After he was elected and was about to join the Defense Committee, I met him separately around mid-June, and at that time, he was still asking where he should be assigned for the standing committee. So, it is unrelated to the Defense Committee."

When the host mentioned that voices condemning political oppression and retaliation against Lee within the party are decreasing, Ahn said, "The muzzle should be pointed outward; if one or two bullets are aimed inward, it becomes very fatal," calling it "Galchi politics."

He explained, "Galchi (hairtail fish) grows by eating galchi," referring to this internal shooting as "serious misconduct." However, he added that he does not consider Representative Jeon to be part of the "Galchi politician" category.

Meanwhile, regarding the start of the trial procedure on Lee's alleged violation of the Public Official Election Act (spreading false information), Ahn predicted that Lee will ultimately be found 'not guilty.' Lee is accused of violating the Public Official Election Act due to statements denying knowledge of Kim Moon-gi, the head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, and claims that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport threatened him during the land-use change process of Baekhyeon-dong site.

Ahn said, "Recently, when I asked Lee if he knew Kim Moon-gi, he said to me, 'Can you accurately remember a person you met years ago?' There are 4,000 to 5,000 subordinates in Seongnam," adding, "Even I have about 20 appointments a day when busy. And sometimes, when I see someone I met yesterday, I ask, 'Did we meet yesterday?'"

He continued, "It is not easy for the court to judge based on whether someone remembers or does not remember," and when asked by the host if he thinks Lee will ultimately be acquitted, he replied, "I think so."

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