Lee Cheol-gyu Takes Steps to 'Keep Mouths Shut' "Cannot Tolerate Party Mockery and Insults" (Comprehensive)

Yoon Sang-hyun's 'Cancer Lump' Remark Sparks Controversy
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Lee Cheol-gyu, Secretary General of the People Power Party, came forward to clarify his remark that "passengers who sink the ship cannot board together." Lee explained, "Some lawmakers disparaged, mocked, and insulted the party," adding, "There is a surge of anger among party members over such remarks. I was trying to say that we should not do this."

After the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th, Lee told reporters, "Since there is an open channel of communication within the party, individual lawmakers can freely express their opinions," but added, "However, expressing opinions based on facts and insulting or mocking the party are different things."

He emphasized, "The party always tries to meet the expectations of the people, and many people are restraining their words and actions, but when one or two people speak wrongly, it hurts the pride of party members, lowers the party's status, and dampens morale. What is wrong with asking to refrain from that?" He continued, "Political statements by politicians, expressing beliefs and convictions, are different from mocking someone."

Lee Cheol-gyu, Secretary General of the People Power Party, is speaking on the 7th during a visit to the Violent Crime Investigation Unit at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Mapo-gu, Seoul, to review measures against violent crimes. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Within the party, there is an interpretation that this was a warning message aimed at some lawmakers who have recently criticized the party leadership over the metropolitan area crisis theory and the responsibility for the Jamboree ahead of next year's general election. In particular, as voices criticizing the leadership's inadequate response to the metropolitan area crisis theory have emerged, Lee reportedly expressed discomfort.

At a closed-door lawmakers' meeting the previous day, Lee reportedly said, "Since we are on the same boat, we should look in the same direction and work together, but I hope there will be no actions that cause discord or harm." This remark sparked controversy as it came from the Secretary General responsible for the nomination process less than a year before the general election. Moreover, it drew attention because it was made in a meeting attended by incumbent lawmakers. A first-term lawmaker said, "The moment I heard it, I wondered who made such (critical) remarks about the party," describing the atmosphere.

Recently, criticism of the party leadership citing the metropolitan area crisis theory has been voiced both inside and outside the party. Yoon Sang-hyun, a People Power Party lawmaker representing Incheon, appeared on a broadcast on the 10th and said, "In the Democratic Party, cancer is spread all over, but it is small cancer. In the People Power Party, there are two or three large cancerous masses. If the Democratic Party treats the cancer, it can recover. But it is very difficult to treat the large cancers in the People Power Party." Regarding the metropolitan area crisis theory raised in connection with next year's general election, he pointed out, "The real crisis is the lack of a sense of crisis," adding, "The party leader, floor leader, secretary general, and policy committee chairman in our party have no experience running metropolitan area elections. They have never nominated candidates for nationwide elections or run elections."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He continued, "The essence of our party's crisis is that we cannot even feel the crisis as a crisis," and criticized, "In a way, we keep hearing that the World Saemangeum Scout Jamboree is going well, that measures have been taken, as the Minister of Gender Equality and Family said. This is the same phenomenon. The party and the metropolitan area elections are fine, fine, it feels like d?j? vu." He also said, "The party leader bears unlimited responsibility for all party issues. Before discussing whether the relationship between the party and the presidential office is horizontal or vertical, the party's presence is lacking," and criticized, "The party should not appear to be too much under the control of the presidential office."

However, within the party, there was caution against overinterpreting Lee's remarks. Kang Min-guk, chief spokesperson, told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting that day, "It is a natural statement for the Secretary General to make," adding, "The party can express various opinions on policies and current issues, and communication channels are always open, but disparaging or belittling the party and opposing the party's identity and policies with derogatory remarks is not appropriate even from the perspective of party members." Jang Dong-hyuk, floor spokesperson of the People Power Party, explained on MBC Radio that day, "I heard it as a general remark hoping that harmful actions would not be taken."

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