There have long been assessments that policy has gone missing from presidential candidate TV debates. We have witnessed countless scenes of candidates slandering and disparaging each other in those venues. However, there has never been a candidate who so blatantly made verbal sexual violence remarks while openly mentioning women’s body parts. That candidate is Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party. Candidate Lee Jun-seok must properly apologize for his remarks and resign immediately.
Yesterday (27th), the 3rd TV debate was held under the auspices of the Election Broadcasting Debate Committee in accordance with the Public Official Election Act. Following the unconstitutional martial law and insurrection incident, the presidential candidates should have presented and debated their concerns and corresponding policies regarding the direction Korean society should take. However, important agenda items such as constitutional amendment, political reform, diplomacy, and security went missing. People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo and Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok competed only over who could better attack Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung to gain one more vote from conservative voters. Candidate Lee Jun-seok’s verbal sexual violence remarks were planned and executed as an extension of that competition.
Candidate Lee Jun-seok’s remarks mentioning specific body parts of women were nothing more than directly transplanting the misogynistic culture from male-dominated online communities. What does that have to do with politics, which was the day’s debate topic? Lee Jun-seok simply brought hatred to gain advantage by throwing talking points that would appeal to the group supporting him, utilizing the highly influential TV debate platform.
Candidate Lee Jun-seok has expanded his political influence by spreading hatred and discrimination, making citizens hostile toward each other and choose sides. Lee Jun-seok, whose only political asset is hatred and discrimination against social minorities including women, disabled people, sexual minorities, and the elderly, became a presidential candidate using this as momentum, and ultimately made sexual violence remarks even in a venue for policy debate, socially spreading misogyny. Candidate Lee Jun-seok’s politics of hatred serves to hide the poverty of his policies. Candidate Lee Jun-seok made “abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family” a campaign promise and poured out absurd misinformation claiming “the Ministry’s main job is regulating the gaming industry.” While opposing the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act, he also distorted facts by saying “Shouldn’t we view people with criminal records differently?” This is the same context of thinking as People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo’s “Cho Doo-soon elementary school security guard” remark, differing only in degree. We had to feel dismayed by such remarks from candidates Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok, realizing “So these are people who don’t even know the content of the anti-discrimination law but oppose it citing social consensus.” Their attitude of stigmatizing protests by the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) and Dongduk Women’s University as “uncivilized” was revealed again this time. Had there not been Democratic Labor Party candidate Kwon Young-guk’s response of “The question is wrong,” Lee Jun-seok’s hate speech would have been broadcast on TV again this time.
It’s not just Lee Jun-seok’s problem. The Reform Party, evaluated as having become “Lee Jun-seok’s personal party,” is also problematic. The Reform Party seems determined to respond to Lee Jun-seok’s sexual violence remarks this time with “defense” and “hatred toward progressive parties” instead of an “apology.” Lee Ki-in, co-chair of the election committee who appeared on CBS Radio’s “Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show” today (28th), defended him saying “Lee Jun-seok has the disposition to bring uncomfortable issues to the public forum.” Then he said, “Didn’t the Democratic Labor Party continuously attack Lee Jun-seok by framing him with misogyny? (So) they brought that article but can’t evaluate it? This is hypocrisy from the progressive camp.” Is “hatred” really what needs to come into the public forum of TV debates?
Many citizens felt self-loathing while watching the 21st presidential TV debate. Is this policy debate? The problem is serious in that candidate Lee Jun-seok’s remarks don’t end as one-time statements in the TV debate. With Lee Jun-seok and the Reform Party’s attitude of pretending not to know criticism against them while making excuses about “quotation,” these remarks are spreading again online with continued defense and criticism. Violence and hatred are not freedom of expression, and government responsibility and efforts to prevent the spread of violence and hatred are important. In that regard, the National Election Commission must now respond. Human rights sensitivity within Korean society has gradually grown. Even in TV debates, problems have been raised about hate speech being directly exposed, and there have been improvements. However, it’s difficult for anyone to accept that misogynistic remarks can brazenly appear in TV debates managed by the Central Election Management Committee, especially in debates for electing the president.
We express regret that candidate Lee Jun-seok spread misogyny through verbal sexual violence without any sense of problem during the TV debate process. A person who constantly hates and divides social minorities is unqualified to be a politician. Candidate Lee Jun-seok must resign from his presidential candidacy right now.
May 28, 2025
Freedom of Expression Network Against Hate and Censorship (Article 21, 16 organizations)
Public Power Sensitivity Response Team, Cultural Solidarity, After the Blacklist, Open Net, Seoul Human Rights Film Festival, Seoul Disability Rights Film Festival, Media Reform Citizens’ Coalition, Media Rights Center, Human Rights Movement Space Bow, Human Rights Movement Network Wind, National Federation for the Promotion of Non-Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, National Media Workers’ Union, National Disability Rights Coalition, Progress Network Center, Center for Information Disclosure for a Transparent Society, Korea Disability Forum
0 Comments