Lee Jae-myung: "The Prime Minister, who should be fully focused on managing the situation, is joking... Where was the nation?"

Foreign Correspondents Briefing Criticizes Joke Harshly
"Politics Is Life, Must Take Unlimited Responsibility for Safety"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun, Park Joon-yi] Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, directly criticized Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, saying, "The prime minister, who should be fully committed to managing the situation, made a joke during a foreign press briefing. Is that the place to joke?"

Earlier, on the 1st, during a foreign press briefing on the 'Itaewon tragedy' held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, when a foreign journalist asked, "What is the beginning and end of the Korean government's responsibility?" and a communication error caused the interpretation to be improperly conveyed, Prime Minister Han smiled and joked, "Isn't there a first and last responsibility for the person responsible for such poor audibility?"

On the morning of the 2nd, at the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Lee criticized the government's measures related to the Itaewon tragedy, saying, "Why is the Ministry of Personnel Management now issuing orders to 'remove words from ribbons' and forbidding words like 'condolences, mourning, tribute, and deepest sympathies'?"

He added, "'Call it an accident, not a tragedy,' 'refer to the victims as deceased, not casualties,' 'do not post memorial photos,' 'omit memorial tablets'?why are such instructions being sent nationwide to local governments and public institutions through official documents amid the cries of the victims, the injured, and their families? Is this some major issue?" He questioned, "Is it right to mock our bereaved families and victims by using such tricks in front of a nation weeping in pain?"

Lee warned, "Politics means taking infinite responsibility for the lives and safety of the people. It is absolutely unforgivable to downplay, conceal, or manipulate incidents to evade responsibility." He emphasized, "Ensuring that such incidents never happen again and that those responsible are held accountable properly?that is the very reason for the existence of the state."

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