Lee Jae-myung, "Vote-Eating Starfish" Jeon Yeo-ok Fiercely Criticizes 'Second Choice' Remark

"Staying Still Helps the Election"

Jeon Yeo-ok, former Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker, fiercely criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, calling him a "starfish candidate who eats votes the more he moves around." This was in relation to Lee's use of the term '2jjik' during a campaign event in Gyeyang District, Incheon.

Press conference held by Representative Lee Jae-myung [Photo by Joint Coverage] [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 9th, Jeon wrote on her blog, "Lee Jae-myung would be helping the election more by staying still. Keeping Lee Jae-myung from going anywhere, including his own constituency, must be the Democratic Party's wise election strategy, right?" She added, "There is always a 'starfish candidate' who eats votes the more they move around. Lee Jae-myung is a perfect example. Lee Jae-myung is a bomb. Lee Jae-myung is a starfish," harshly criticizing him.

She also cited past examples. "When I was in the party, a certain Democratic Party candidate ran. Our side had a candidate who struggled even to shake hands and found campaigning difficult, but the other side had a well-known figure with a PhD from a prestigious American university and was a woman," she recalled. "When I worried, saying 'What if we lose?' a party official accompanying our candidate laughed and said, 'Don't worry. The Democratic Party's female candidate loses votes the more people she meets. She's so arrogant, you wouldn't believe it.' As the seasoned party official predicted, the Hannara Party candidate won by a landslide," she said.

Jeon Yeo-ok, former member of the Grand National Party [Photo source=Channel A 'Outsiders']

On the 8th, Lee greeted residents in his constituency, Gyeyang District, Incheon, and said to customers at a meat restaurant, "Surely not '2jjik,' right?" This moment was broadcast live on YouTube. '2jjik' is a derogatory term used in opposition-leaning online communities to refer to supporters of President Yoon Seok-youl, who was candidate number 2 in the last presidential election.

The ruling party erupted in response. People from the People Power Party, including former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, who will face off in the general election, collectively criticized Lee, calling it "voter disparagement."

Amid the controversy, Lee apologized on the 9th, saying, "I feel sorry for using the term '2jjik' in my constituency yesterday. I sincerely apologize for the highly inappropriate remark." He added, "Citizens who support the opposing party and those who support the Democratic Party are all the same sovereigns and owners of this country. I will engage in politics that humbly and fully serve the will of the people."

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