PPP Questions President Lee Jae-myung's Fitness as Commander-in-Chief Over 'Unfortunate Accident' Remarks; Lawmakers Boycott Armed Forces Day Ceremony

The People Power Party has raised questions over President Lee Jae-myung's 'unfortunate accident' remarks, asking whether they were appropriate for the commander-in-chief — the highest authority in command and supervision of the military. Rep. Jang Dong-hyuk criticized the remarks as 'flattery meant for Kim Jong-un to hear,' pointing out that they create a minefield for national security.

The PPP leadership and lawmakers with backgrounds as generals all boycotted the 77th Armed Forces Day ceremony held on October 1. The Armed Forces Day ceremony is a government-hosted event where the commander-in-chief directly encourages the troops.

The opposition PPP signaled its criticism through both its challenge to the president's remarks and its absence from the ceremony.