President Lee Responds to Question About "Beloved Kang Hoon-sik's Candidacy": "I Love My Wife"

President Lee Jae-myung Holds New Year's Press Conference on the 21st

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the New Year's press conference held at the Blue House State Guest House on the 21st. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 21st, President Lee Jae-myung commented on Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik's potential candidacy for the unified mayoral post of Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province, saying, "Politics is unpredictable, like a living frog that could leap in any direction," and added, "I cannot dictate or predict what political choices someone will make; it is completely unforeseeable."

During the press conference held at the Blue House State Guest House under the theme "A Great Transformation Together, A Great Leap Forward for All," President Lee was asked, "Supporters say that you and Chief Secretary Kang have a close relationship. If you love him, can you let him go?"

President Lee responded with a laugh, "I love my wife." Chief Secretary Kang, who was seated nearby, was seen smiling and shaking his head at the president's answer. President Lee then joked again, saying, "They say we're in love. That's creepy," and added, "(I) love everyone."

Regarding Woo Sang-ho, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, running for office, President Lee said, "It's not a defection; he has fulfilled his role and is now pursuing his own path," and explained, "It's not as if we are in a relationship where we must always stay together, so I don't think it can be called a defection."