Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, criticized the People Power Party for condemning the 'bulletproof campaign' on the 21st, stating, "Can we joke around with a political opponent who’s been stabbed in the neck?" He continued, "Let’s establish a true democratic country where we don’t get shot or killed and where fair competition can take place."
The candidate remarked during a campaign at Incheon Bupyeong Station Plaza, "Even at this moment, rebellion and insurrection continue, and conspiracies to eliminate political opponents are ongoing," adding, "Is it a mistake of Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party that we must hold a campaign while installing bulletproof glass and having security guards protect us? Is this something to mock?" He also stated, "Those who should be reflecting on themselves are belittling the citizens and joking about a political opponent stabbed in an assassination attempt."
He mentioned, "There have been many heartbreaking deaths in our modern history," referring again to the 'judicial murder of Cho Bong-am,' 'assassination of Kim Gu,' and 'the death of Jang Jun-ha' that he mentioned during a recent campaign. He asserted, "Let’s establish a true democratic country where no one suffers from judicial murder, where no one dies from being stabbed, and where no one is killed by gunfire in fair competition."
The candidate noted, "The reason I stand here alive and well before you, despite being trampled by bullets, knives, laws, and pens, is because of the great citizens." He emphasized that "the only way to restart normally is through your votes."
On the same day at a campaign in Cheongna, he said, "There are people who criticize me for installing a bulletproof shield and having security guards on the side," adding, "While anyone can criticize, the People Power Party should not condemn Lee Jae-myung, who has faced actual assassination threats, as they are the ones responsible for creating this situation."
He continued, "These dark forces attempting physical violence and political assassinations in a sacred election, where sovereign citizens exercise their rights, are forces that must be eradicated as they destroy the national community," urging, "Let us not lose anyone like Cho Bong-am again."
The candidate brought up the recently controversial 'hotel economy theory' again during the campaign. He stated, "To say that if money circulates, even 100,000 won, the economy will be revitalized is being weirdly twisted," adding, "If one cannot understand it, they are foolish; if they are distorting it, they are bad people." This was directed at candidates Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party.
He reiterated the necessity of local currency, stating, "In the current crisis, there is no money even if one wants to spend. The U.S. created useless dams during the Great Depression to create jobs, and that’s how money circulated; thus, giving out 100,000 won of local currency to spend somewhere and getting the money circulating is what the government should do during a recession."