Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung apologized for appearing on the YouTube channel of food columnist Hwang Gyo-ik on the day of the fire at the Coupang Logistics Center in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, on June 17. The intention is to prevent the spread of controversy ahead of the start of the regional primary for the Democratic Party’s presidential candidates on the 4th of next month. However, the former representative Lee Nak-yeon counterattacked, saying, “We talk about ‘one team’ without clarification or rebuttal.”
The governor said on Facebook on the 21st, referring to the response at the time of the fire, “I thought I did my best, but it is correct to point out that I should have canceled all schedules immediately and went to the site sooner.” “I acknowledge that my judgment and actions did not reach the level of the people who are sovereign, and I apologize.”
Initially, when the fact that the filming of ‘Mukbang (Eating Broadcast)’ was announced on the day of the fire, the governor countered on the 20th, saying, “As a disaster general manager, I responded in real time.” However, as the opposition and the ruling party continued to criticize that “we should apologize instead of making excuses,” he backed down after a day. In the past, the governor also criticized the actions of former President Park Geun-hye on the day of the 2016 Sewol ferry disaster and pointed out that it was a completely different action from the prosecution of former President Park on charges of neglect of duty and negligent manslaughter.
However, the branch office kept a distance from the request for resignation, saying, “There is no change in the basic plan.” The branch plans to release the governorship as late as possible even if the candidates are confirmed. A passport official said, “After the controversy, Mr. Hwang even withdrew the public offering for the president of the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, so it seems that he will not take this issue any further.” On the other hand, the former representative continued the offensive by targeting the Lee Jae-myung camp. On the 21st, Lee Nak-yeon’s public affairs director Jeong Woon-hyeon posted on Facebook, “Lee Jae-myung, a spokesperson for the camp, lied or distorted while explaining how the ‘mukbang’ was filmed.” This is a rebuttal to the assertion that “there were no reports of the disappearance of firefighters on the day of the accident,” said Lee Kyung-kyung, a spokesman for the Lee Jae-myung camp. Director Jeong also pointed at the branch and said, “He spreads bizarre sophistry and rhymes with ‘one team’ like anyone else.” The reactions of other runners were mixed. Rep. Kim Du-kwan posted on Facebook on the 21st, “Candidate Jae-myung Lee has made a clear apology. “Thank you,” he defended, “the controversy should be gone now.” Former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae also said on the 20th, “You should not give the public the impression that you are idle by arguing rather than feeling controversial.”
Correspondent Hye-ryeong Choi herstory@donga.com Go to reporter page>
Copyright by dongA.com All rights reserved.
