Lee Jae-myung's Submissive Attitude Toward China... Pathetic Low-Level Behavior

On the 23rd, the People Power Party criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, "It is pathetic to see such a low level of understanding of international affairs, bowing to China while shouting for unconditional eradication of Japan."

Park Jeong-ha, spokesperson for the Central Election Countermeasures Committee, said in a statement, "This general election is a 'second founding war.'"

Handonghun, the General Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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Park referred to Lee Jae-myung's remark the previous day at a traditional market in Dangjin, Chungnam, where he said, "Why bother with China? Just say 'xie xie' (謝謝, thank you), and say 'xie xie' to Taiwan as well," pointing out that "this shows a submissive attitude toward China."

He continued, "Lee calls this general election a 'new Korea-Japan war.' The main theme of the election is outdated pro-Japanese witch hunts, not reviving people's livelihoods or national interests," and criticized, "It is also absurd to talk about 'Chairman Kim Il-sung's efforts' toward North Korea, which constantly threatens with military provocations."

Park emphasized, "At this level, it has paved a smooth path for pro-North Korean forces trying to enter the National Assembly by using the Democratic Party and its satellite parties as hosts," adding, "We will block the entry of pro-North Korean and China-sycophantic figures who deny national identity and threaten us."

The Central Election Committee's public relations team also issued a statement, saying, "Lee openly revealed his China-sycophantic diplomacy," and criticized, "After accepting the pro-North Korean successor forces of the Unified Progressive Party, has he now set his diplomatic line to pro-North Korean and China-sycophantic?" They added, "If we fail to stop the Democratic Party in this general election, their pro-North Korean and sycophantic diplomatic line will directly strike our security and national interests."

Criticism also followed Lee's remark the previous day, "Why should we get involved between Russia and Ukraine?" Yoo Yong-won, a military journalist and proportional representative candidate for the People’s Future Party, said at a briefing at the Yeouido party headquarters, "Does that mean we should condone Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is condemned worldwide?"

He emphasized, "No matter how much Lee uses criticism of the Yoon Seok-yeol government as his top election strategy, his distorted security view on neighboring countries' invasions is not only pathetic but also frightening."

He added, "Lee also said that whatever happens in the Taiwan Strait has nothing to do with the Korean Peninsula," and said, "The possibility of China's invasion of Taiwan and the crisis in the Taiwan Strait are matters that security experts agree are directly linked to the security of the Korean Peninsula. I want to ask whether the leader of the main opposition party on the National Assembly's National Defense Committee knows the basic ABCs of security."

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