Lee Jae-myung and Kim Ki-hyun Return from Vacation... First Targeted Remarks

Kim Ki-hyun "Democratic Party's Money Envelopes, Corruption from Top to Bottom"
Jamboree Disruption Controversy... Ruling Party "Democrats Use It as a Political Tool, 'Pathetic'"
Lee Jae-myung "Not a Jamboree but a Global Worrying Event"

The leaders of the ruling and opposition parties returned to party affairs on the 7th after their summer vacations. Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, mentioned the Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree, which descended into chaos during the vacation, in his first remarks after returning, criticizing the Democratic Party for 'foot-dragging.' He also revisited the arrest of independent lawmaker Yoon Kwan-seok on the 4th on charges related to the 'Democratic Party money envelope distribution suspicion,' signaling an offensive campaign centered on moral shortcomings. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, who is facing adverse issues such as the controversy over Kim Eun-kyung, chairwoman of the Democratic Party Innovation Committee, allegedly disparaging the elderly and the money envelope scandal, emphasized 'people's livelihood' after his vacation while criticizing the government's poor preparation for the Jamboree, attempting to shift the narrative.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

At the People Power Party Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Kim Ki-hyun referred to the 25th World Scout Jamboree and pointed at the Democratic Party, saying, "It is utterly pathetic that during a large-scale international event involving national interests, instead of helping to resolve problems, they rather exacerbate them and use them as tools for political strife." He also emphasized that the previous administration cannot be free from responsibility. Kim said, "The confirmation of the 2023 Jamboree was during the Moon Jae-in administration in August 2017," adding, "Former President Moon even personally recorded a video to promote it, and the related special law passed through the National Assembly?all of which were led by the Moon administration, so the Democratic Party must be aware of this." He criticized Democratic lawmaker Kim Yoon-duk, who served as co-chairman of the Saemangeum Jamboree organizing committee, saying, "When heatstroke patients appeared and preparation issues were raised, he suddenly disappeared." He added, "The president of the National Assembly Scout Federation is also Democratic lawmaker Ahn Kyu-baek." He further criticized, "The behavior of their party members' immoral acts and the use of an international event to divert attention from the judicial risks of party leaders and lawmakers is by no means the proper image of a legitimate political party."

Kim continued his offensive by mentioning reports that 20 Democratic Party lawmakers were involved in the 'money envelope party convention' incident. This is interpreted as a strategy to strengthen pressure on the opposition and seize control of the political situation by capitalizing on the money envelope scandal, which is a fatal blow to morality. Kim said, "From the top to the bottom of the Democratic Party, including leader Lee Jae-myung, former leader Song Young-gil, and former secretary-general Yoon Kwan-seok, it seems full of corrupt figures," adding, "A proper party leader should not ignore the revealed facts. This is the last chance for self-purification. Even a faint hope of revival should allow the public to have expectations. A leader's silence is poison."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the other hand, Lee Jae-myung, instead of mentioning the controversial Innovation Committee and money envelope scandal during his vacation, sought a breakthrough by criticizing the poor Jamboree event and urging the government to prepare measures for people's livelihood.

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning, Lee began by saying, "The debt time bomb is accelerating," urging the passage of the 'Bad Bank Fund Establishment Act.' Lee said, "The debt problem is very serious. The government needs special attention and measures," adding, "We must hasten the passage of the Bad Bank Fund Establishment Act. We must never again face a situation where a small problem grows into an unmanageable one." He emphasized the Democratic Party's competence in contrast to the government's passive stance on the economic crisis, interpreted as an attempt to take the lead on the supplementary budget (Chugyeong) issue.

Regarding the poor preparation of the Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree, he continued with strong criticism. He said, "It is lamentable how South Korea, which has successfully hosted the Winter and Summer Olympics and the World Cup, has become a laughingstock worldwide with such backward appearances." He added, "It seems like a survival game rather than a festival. It feels like the Jamboree has become a global concern event."

Lee said, "The heatwave was already anticipated, and many people pointed out this problem," sharpening his criticism toward the government and ruling party. He continued, "The government must respond with full force to prevent further decline in national dignity," urging, "A control tower responsible for the event's operation should be promptly and practically established, and I hope the Jamboree will be well conducted even in the remaining week."

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