Lee Jae-myung: "'2jjik' Remark Apologies... Extremely Inappropriate, Sincerely Sorry"

"Criticized for 'Not Being on My Side'... Politics as Old-Fashioned"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, apologized on the 9th for using the term '2jjik,' which is derogatory toward supporters of the ruling People Power Party, during greetings in his constituency.

In a post on Facebook that day, Lee wrote, "I feel sorry for using the term '2jjik' yesterday in my constituency," adding, "I sincerely apologize for the highly inappropriate remark."

He also stated, "Citizens who support the opposing party and those who support the Democratic Party are all the same sovereign people and owners of this country," and added, "I will engage in politics that fully serves the will of the people with a humbler attitude."

'2jjik' is a term used to derogatorily refer to supporters of the ruling party who voted for President Yoon Seok-youl, candidate number 2 in the last presidential election, and is commonly used in opposition-leaning online communities.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a press conference at the sit-in protest demanding a national investigation into the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway corruption scandal, set up in front of the Yangpyeong County Office in Gyeonggi Province on the morning of the 7th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

While greeting residents in his constituency, Gyeyang-eul, Incheon, the previous day, Lee said to customers at a barbecue restaurant, "Surely you are not '2jjik,' right?" This scene was broadcast live on YouTube.

The People Power Party strongly criticized Lee's remark.

Park Jeong-ha, chief spokesperson, said in a statement that day, "This shows Lee's perception of the people," and pointed out, "Criticizing others just because they are not on your side or have different political views only drives our politics, which should move toward unity and the future, into division and old-fashioned ways."

Park Won-seok, chief spokesperson of the New Future Party, also condemned the remark in a written briefing, saying, "It is a statement that makes one doubt their ears," and added, "If even the opposition leader divides citizens with '2jjik' talk, there is no way a political environment free of hatred and exclusion can be formed."

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