1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson explores the comments made by presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok regarding the need for public scrutiny of candidate families, particularly in the case of Lee Jae-myung. The article discusses Lee Jun-seok’s defense of his remarks and his criticism of the lack of accountability from the other candidates.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 후보 | hubo | candidate | The candidates should be held accountable for their families. |
| 이재명 | Lee Jae-myung | Lee Jae-myung (a presidential candidate) | Lee Jae-myung, as a presidential candidate, should be subject to public scrutiny. |
| 대통령 | daetongryeong | president | The presidential candidates must be transparent about their families. |
| 그는 | geuneun | he | He (Lee Jun-seok) argued that the candidates have avoided responsibility. |
| 했다 | haetta | did | Lee Jun-seok did make controversial remarks about a candidate’s body part. |
| 혐오 | hyeomo | hatred, prejudice | Lee Jun-seok denied that his question contained any hatred or prejudice. |
| 가족 | gajok | family | Scrutiny of the candidates’ families is a matter of public responsibility. |
| 검증 | geomgyeong | verification, examination | The verification of the candidates’ families is not a matter of privacy. |
| 공적 | gongjeok | public | Examining the candidates’ families is a matter of public responsibility. |
| 책임 | chaegim | responsibility | The candidates have a responsibility to be transparent about their families. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
이준석 개혁신당 대선후보가 또다시 반박했다. 그는 “제 질문 가운데 어디에 혐오가 있나. 이 후보는 29일 국회에서 긴급 기자회견을 열고 “지난 3년간 우리는 김건희라는 이름으로 참담한 고통의 시간을 겪었다. 이어 “두 후보는 대답을 회피했고, 책임을 외면했다”고 말했다.
Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the Reform Party, defended his remarks again. He said, “Where in my question was there any hatred? This candidate (Lee Jae-myung) held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly on the 29th, saying, “For the past 3 years, we have experienced a painful time with the name Kim Gun-hee.” He then said, “The two candidates (Lee Jae-myung and the other) avoided answering and evaded responsibility.”
이어 “이재명 후보가 이를 모르고 있었다면, 무관심이거나 무능일 거다. 그는 “이재명 후보는 이를 ‘신변잡기’라며 덮으려 했지만 대통령 후보자의 가족에 대한 검증은 사생활의 문제가 아니라 공적 책임의 연장선”이라고 주장했다.
He continued, “If Lee Jae-myung was unaware of this, it would mean he is either indifferent or incompetent.” He argued, “Lee Jae-myung tried to cover it up by calling it a ‘personal matter,’ but the verification of a presidential candidate’s family is not a matter of privacy, but an extension of public responsibility.”
“민주당, 시민단체, 유튜버들이 총출동해 저를 향한 인신공격에 나섰고, 선거사무소 앞에서는 사퇴를 겁박하는 시위까지 이어졌다”는 것이다.
“The Democratic Party, civic groups, and YouTubers have all mobilized to attack me personally, and there have even been protests in front of my campaign office demanding my resignation,” he said.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- What is the main issue that Lee Jun-seok is addressing?
- What does Lee Jun-seok argue about the need to scrutinize the families of presidential candidates?
- How does Lee Jun-seok respond to the criticism he has faced for his remarks?
- What does Lee Jun-seok say about Lee Jae-myung’s response to the scrutiny of his family?
- What is Lee Jun-seok’s overall stance on the responsibility of presidential candidates regarding their families?
5. Cultural and historical notes
This article reflects the ongoing debates and controversies surrounding the 2022 South Korean presidential election. The scrutiny of candidates’ families and personal lives is a sensitive and complex issue, with arguments on both sides about the balance between privacy and public accountability. This debate is shaped by South Korea’s political culture and history, where the personal lives of leaders have often been subject to intense public and media attention.