Seo Eun-sook: "Supporting Lee Jae-myung Is Not a Crime... 'Gaeddal' Should Not Be Demonized"

Seo Eun-sook, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, warned against demonizing the party's hardline fandom known as the so-called 'Gaeddal,' saying, "Supporting Representative Lee Jae-myung is not a crime."

On the 25th, Seo said on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' "I do not think it is a rational conclusion to attribute every problem within the party to Representative Lee."

Seo Eun-sook, a Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 23rd and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

She stated, "People who engage in violent behavior to suppress others should be criticized and punished if they are party members, whether they support Representative Lee or someone else. However, concluding all issues by blaming Representative Lee and using this to amplify conflicts within our party is something we should refrain from if we are comrades within the same party."

She added, "Conflicts or differing opinions within the party are entirely possible, and criticism of the representative and leadership is a part of what is possible and necessary in a democratic party. However, while factionalism and partisanship can exist in our politics, demonizing the opponent obscures the essence of the matter."

This was essentially a remark targeting the non-Myeong (非明) faction. The day before, she also pointed out that Rep. Lee Won-wook of the Democratic Party publicly shared a text message calling a non-party member 'Gaeddal' and said he should clarify this.

Seo said, "Regarding the clarification, I have not heard anything yet," and added, "When we talk about facts, as I mentioned at yesterday's Supreme Council meeting, attacking a party leader or criticizing the leadership based on false information, and if it turns out to be untrue, apologizing or expressing regret is common sense and a natural response."

Seo also pointed out that Rep. Hong Ki-won, who criticized the leadership at a party meeting for 'doing nothing' regarding Rep. Kim Nam-guk's coin allegations, was spreading 'false information.' She said, "After media reports about cryptocurrency transactions during the standing committee process, Representative Lee immediately instructed the Ethics Inspection Team to begin activities. Saying that the leadership 'did nothing' in response to such measures is clearly not based on facts."

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