Lee In-ae, a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly from the People Power Party, has publicly criticized Governor Kim Dong-yeon's policy supporting child care for undocumented migrant children, labeling it as 'populism.' However, this criticism has come under scrutiny as the legal framework for this policy stems from an ordinance that Lee herself proposed last September, raising questions about her own legislative integrity and consistency. In a press release, Lee accused Kim of distorting the ordinance’s intent, alleging that he uses it as a political shield to defend what she perceives as a populist agenda.

Despite her criticisms, Lee maintains that her original stance on the issue remains unchanged, asserting that migrant children's issues should be approached from a human rights perspective. Nonetheless, she has voiced concerns that prioritizing support for undocumented children without sufficient funding for domestic starving children represents irresponsible populism. Critics, however, argue that if Lee truly believed the policy was misplaced, she should not have proposed the ordinance in the first place, suggesting that her recent remarks reflect a lack of responsibility as a legislator and a contradiction to her previous commitments.

The tension has escalated, with representatives from Kim's office pointing out that Lee had previously acknowledged the ordinance’s human rights implications, emphasizing that regardless of her party alignment, her current stance could undermine her prior accomplishments and lead to a self-contradictory position. The controversy showcases not only internal political struggles within the People Power Party but also highlights the broader challenges in aligning party policies with individual lawmakers' beliefs and constituents' needs.