Lee Byung-tae, vice chairman of the presidential Regulatory Rationalization Committee, resigned Thursday after sparking controversy with remarks about the "sanctuary" of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.
Kang Yu-jung, senior presidential spokesperson, said in a notice that day, "The vice chairman conveyed his intention to resign," adding, "The presidential office announces that it has decided to accept it." Earlier that day, the presidential office said, "We emphasized that, as a key member appointed to a presidential committee with significant responsibility and authority, he must strive to align with the government's policy direction, and we issued a warning." It added, "Given the very serious nature of the matter thereafter, we recommended the vice chairman's resignation."
Lee had stirred controversy by posting on social media, in connection with the recent so-called "Starbucks" cheering chant controversy that arose during a baseball game between Baejae High School and Gwangju Jeil High School, a message to the effect that "5·18 has become a sanctuary" and that it "resembles North Korea more than South Korea."
