Lee Rae-kyung, a veteran political activist selected by Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung to helm the party’s innovation committee, declined the role within nine hours of his appointment due to what he described as “political conflict” between Korea’s two main parties, likening the criticism against his appointment to a “witch hunt.” Lee faced significant backlash for controversial remarks, such as suggesting that the ROKS Cheonan naval ship self-detonated instead of being sunk by a North Korean torpedo, insinuating that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not a war criminal and claiming that the COVID-19 virus originated in the U.S.

Lee’s