Lee Jung-hyun: "Democratic Party, Fight Directly Against Yoon"... What Does This Bold Statement Mean?

"If You Want to Regain Power, Fight Yoon, Not Your Wife"
"Residents' Issues... Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Should Take a Step Back"

Former People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jeong-hyun sharply criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for raising allegations of special favors to the family of First Lady Kim Keon-hee regarding the route change of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway.

In an interview with KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs' on the 10th, Lee said, "I want to say something to the Democratic Party," adding, "You are politicians and if you want to regain power, look President Yoon Seok-yeol in the eye and try to fight with him."

Lee pointed out, "Since this administration came into power, the Democratic Party has mostly talked about the president's wife throughout the year," and added, "They did the same during the presidential election period and even when he was the Prosecutor General, they kept raising suspicions only about his wife."

Lee Jeong-hyun, Vice Chairman of the Local Era Committee (former member of the People Power Party), is entering the appointment ceremony for the President's Special Advisor on Culture and Sports, and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Local Era Committee held at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul on July 7, 2023. Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "How can you expect the public to trust a party that attacks only the family and does not confront your actual counterpart, Yoon Seok-yeol, even once or twice?" and said, "Of course, your supporters will go crazy and be happy, but those in the middle will think you should stop."

He then questioned, "Is this the Joseon Dynasty? Are you going to show the public a fight like the Yesong Dispute, quarreling for six months without even holding a funeral?"

Lee said, "It is the opposition's role to raise issues if there are any suspicions or doubts, and it is something the Democratic Party can do," but added, "I believe this is no longer an era where the national system or the public would change the route of an expressway to give benefits related to the president's family."

He said, "If you leave a bag containing 10 million won in the restroom, do you think anyone would take it carelessly? To change the route of such an expressway, at least numerous doctors from KDI must participate, designers must be involved, everyone who owns land in Yangpyeong is watching, and there must be consultations with the Yangpyeong County Council. You cannot say all these people are in cahoots."

Regarding the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's decision to scrap the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway construction project following these allegations, Lee advised, "They should look for a solution again," and said, "This is not a party issue but a matter concerning the residents who use the road, so I want to tell both sides to step back a little and think about the people."

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