Lee Byung-tae Resigns Over '5·18 Sacred Cow' Remarks: "No Regrets About Raising Necessary Issues"

▲ Lee Byung-tae, Vice Chair of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee, speaks during the first plenary meeting of the committee held at the Blue House on the 15th, presided over by President Lee Jae-myung.

Lee Byung-tae, Vice Chair of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee, announced today (July 6) that he is stepping down following a recommendation from the Blue House due to controversy over his remarks regarding the "sacred nature of the May 18 Democratic Uprising." He stated, "I have no regrets about the pride I feel in having raised a necessary topic."

In a statement regarding his resignation posted on his social media today, Lee wrote, "After deep consideration, I have decided to step down from my position as vice chair, following the recommendation for voluntary resignation and the judgment that I should not be a burden to the appointing authority and the government."

Lee continued, "While we all have our own sacred cows, our society should not become one that forces one's own, or a specific group's, sacred cows onto others."

Regarding the controversy over cheering slogans at Paichai High School that served as the backdrop for his "5·18 sacred cow" remarks, he explained, "My original intention was to appeal for our society to be a little more flexible and generous toward differing opinions, as I watched even simple slogans used in sports games by young students escalate into political tools and ideological confrontations between camps."

However, he wrote, "In the end, regardless of my intentions, it resulted in amplifying conflict," adding, "It was my fault for failing to properly consider political sensitivities."

Nevertheless, he cited two reasons for his hesitation to resign immediately despite the Blue House's "stern warning" and recommendation to step down.

First, he stated, "I was concerned that this resignation does not align with the principle of the rule of law, as it does not constitute clear grounds for dismissal," and added, "I feared that leaving a precedent of resigning under unjust political pressure might result in condoning the reckless tyranny of political power in the future."

He also said, "I was worried that my resignation might appear as if I were negating the very issue I raised—the need for a mature democracy that embraces freedom of expression and diversity," adding, "I still believe that our society must move toward one where people can freely express their thoughts."

Regarding the so-called issue of sacred cows within society, he argued, "In particular, it is the essence of democracy that power does not force this upon people," and claimed, "If power and groups begin to arbitrarily define the boundaries between freedom and indulgence, that is the beginning of totalitarianism."

Lee also mentioned, "The reason I joined the Lee Jae-myung administration was because I believed in the President's sincerity in breaking down polarized politics and achieving national unity," and added, "I have been in deep agony over whether the repeated sight of conservative-leaning figures, including myself, being recruited only to be unable to fulfill our goals and stepping down is consistent with the grand cause of national unity."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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