'Do you have girlfriend?': Questions for young party leader raise eyebrows

Lee Jun-seok, the new leader of the main opposition People Power Party, rides a Ttareungyi, Seoul's bike sharing system, to the National Assembly, Sunday. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

It may be natural that the public wants to know more about Lee Jun-seok, 36, the newly elected leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), as he is the first politician in his 30s to become chief of either the ruling or the main opposition party.

Some questions directed at him, however, have raised people's eyebrows as they were only focused on his young age and private life ― questions which would have never been asked if the new leader was at a “normal age” to be a party leader, like those in their 50s or over.

In the KBS radio show, “Joo Jin-woo Live,” Friday, the host of the show, journalist Joo, asked Lee if he was unmarried. After Lee said yes, Joo asked him if he had a girlfriend.

“You shouldn't keep asking such private questions,” Lee said while refusing to respond to the query. But Joo kept asking and said many people were wondering “because you are now a party leader, and people are interested in such personal questions.”

Joo was relentless in bombarding Lee with personal questions.

“Do you get paid if you become a party leader?” “Will the PPP provide you with a car?” “Do you get a corporate card?” and “I heard you don't usually say hello to people ― is that true?” he continued asking.

Lee responded without being embarrassed.

“There is no salary for being a party leader and I have to pay a party membership fee of 2.5 million won,” Lee said. “I know the PPP offers a car (for the party leader), but I am not sure whether I will use it or not,” he added. “Now I have a corporate credit card I can use for official occasions.”

Responding to the question as to whether he often skips saying hello to people ― a complaint which may have come from older politicians who think he is impolite ― Lee answered that the rumor is “a little strange because I always say hi to people.”