The Presidential Office issued a public warning to Lee Byoung-tae, vice chairman of the presidential Regulatory Rationalization Committee, calling his conduct "inappropriate" after he criticized the Baejae High School baseball team incident, which sparked controversy over a "Starbucks chant" cheer, by saying "the May 18 Democratic Uprising has become a sacred cow."
According to political circles Wednesday, Kang Yu-jung, senior spokesperson for the Presidential Office, said Tuesday that Lee's actions were "inappropriate conduct for a person in a responsible position at a government-affiliated institution," adding that the office "sternly warned him and strongly requested that this not happen again." She further pointed out that "unlike the government's firm stance rejecting hatred and mockery, his remarks are open to misunderstanding."
Earlier, Lee had written on his Facebook page regarding the disciplinary action against the Baejae High School baseball students that "the May 18 Uprising has become a sacred cow," criticizing it as "the image of North Korea wailing at the sight of a newspaper carrying a photo of Kim Il-sung getting soaked in the rain." Even after criticism of the remark emerged within the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee posted again and refused to back down, saying that "'punishment' based on a statement is a denial of fundamental rights." Lee is a conservative-leaning figure who joined candidate Hong Joon-pyo's camp during the People Power Party's presidential primary last year.
Earlier, the Baejae High School baseball team sparked controversy by chanting "Let's go to Starbucks" during a game against Gwangju Jeil High School in a high school baseball tournament. The Baejae High School baseball team received a disciplinary penalty of a six-month ban from national tournaments from the Korea Baseball Softball Association. The Democratic Party strongly criticized the act, with acting party leader and floor leader Han Byung-do saying, "Regardless of whether one is progressive or conservative, no human being should make light of the May 18 Uprising."
Demands for Lee's resignation poured in from the broader ruling bloc. Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Min-hee said on Facebook, "You (Lee), who say 'I don't know what I should apologize for' even after the Presidential Office issued a warning, don't fit with the Lee Jae-myung administration." Lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk criticized him Tuesday, saying, "It was truly inappropriate and appalling remarks," and demanded, "Apologize before the people immediately." Park Byung-eon, senior spokesperson for the Rebuilding Korea Party, demanded his resignation in a commentary, saying, "We must not tolerate, in the name of integration, even a figure who raised a red-baiting attack calling it 'like North Korea.'"
