People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok visited Incheon on the 24th, 10 days before the June 3 local elections, and stressed the need to judge the Lee Jae-myung administration. On the ruling camp's so-called "Tank Day" event that sparked a Starbucks offensive, he said they had "lost their reason."
That afternoon, Jang visited Okryeon Market in Yeonsu District, Incheon, to stump for Park Jong-jin, who is running in the Yeonsu A National Assembly by-election. Jang mainly criticized President Lee Jae-myung's trial and the ruling camp's Starbucks offensive.
Jang said, "In a normal country, anyone who commits the same crime stands trial, and if their crime is revealed, they go to prison, and that is what the Constitution says," adding, "President Lee Jae-myung says he will erase his own crimes. Can you accept that?"
He went on, "Now they say the president will even decide the coffee you drink in the morning," adding, "The president and the Minister are stepping up to say let's not drink a certain coffee—isn't this the Communist Party? Please stop Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party from further dividing the people and running amok."
About Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party of Korea's Incheon mayoral candidate, he said, "A person who didn't even have a name, who became famous by picking Lee Jae-myung's boogers," and about Song Young-gil, the Democratic Party of Korea's Yeonsu A National Assembly candidate, he said, "A person who scattered cash envelopes at the party convention, was arrested, and then shamelessly came back saying he would do politics again."
Jang also waged a public-opinion battle on social media that day. After President Lee referred to Starbucks Korea's "Siren Mug Event" held two years ago for the 10th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster as a "barbaric act," Jang said Lee had "lost his reason."
A siren is a mermaid appearing in Greek mythology who lures sailors with enchanting songs. Since its founding in 1971, Starbucks has used the siren image in its logo. The siren has been used as a symbol of Starbucks and has been attached as a name to various services.
Jang said, "If we follow the president's claim, on Apr. 16 we should not even use 'Siren Order.' We should also cover Starbucks signs that depict a 'siren,'" adding, "In the first place, there was no event (two years ago). It was an ordinary release notice announcing that a new Siren Classic product had been launched."
He continued, "Lee Jae-myung moved into the Blue House on Dec. 29 last year. A lot of photos came out of him beaming as he met reporters," adding, "That day was exactly the first anniversary of the Muan Airport disaster. If someone criticized that he should have gone to Muan instead of moving into the Blue House, what would you say in response?"