Former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Seok-hyun: "Conflict between Lee Jae-myung and Lee Nak-yeon in Party Affairs Committee is Fake News"

Facebook post by former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Seok-hyun

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Posts directly refuting some media reports that there was a clash over seat allocation between Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung and Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon during the party affairs committee meeting have been appearing one after another.

Following Cho Young-min, head of the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Province Central Cooperation Headquarters, former National Assembly Deputy Speaker (Democratic Party) Lee Seok-hyun posted on Facebook on the night of the 11th an article titled "Fake News Alert on Democratic Party Division," stating, "I am a witness to the false report that Lee Nak-yeon (Democratic Party) leader and Lee Jae-myung (Gyeonggi Province) governor had a loud dispute over seat allocation during the party affairs meeting," directly refuting the claims.

He added, "I was present when Governor Lee Jae-myung greeted Leader Lee Nak-yeon in his office before the meeting, and I also attended the party affairs meeting," and stated, "The governor's seat was prepared in advance (contrary to media reports)."

He further noted, "Leader Lee Nak-yeon even encouraged Governor Lee Jae-myung to say a few words, and the atmosphere was amicable throughout."

Earlier, some media outlets reported that on the 10th, the last day Leader Lee Nak-yeon presided over the party affairs committee, there was a near clash in a tense atmosphere between the two sides' officials over Governor Lee Jae-myung's seat allocation.

However, Cho Young-min, head of the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Province Central Cooperation Headquarters, refuted this on the same day, stating, "As someone who was actually on site in the capacity of head of the Gyeonggi Province Central Cooperation Headquarters, I testify that there was no 'clash' or 'loud voices' between Governor Lee Jae-myung and Leader Lee Nak-yeon's side officials."

He continued, "At the venue where the party affairs committee was held, the governor received 'kind' guidance from the Democratic Party regarding his seat, and he sat in the seat he was guided to," adding, "The party thoughtfully assigned a seat with a photo of President Kim Dae-jung visible behind, showing consideration."

Cho also explained the situation at the time, saying, "I personally conveyed Governor Lee Jae-myung's intention to attend the party affairs committee to the party from the Central Cooperation Headquarters, so it is not true that he visited without prior notice," and "When entering the party affairs committee, Leader Lee Nak-yeon and Governor Lee Jae-myung appeared holding hands tightly, reaffirming that they were truly a 'one team.'"

Governor Lee also met with reporters before attending the party affairs committee that day, saying, "Leader Lee Nak-yeon achieved great results during difficult times and led the party steadily," and "As a member of the (Democratic) party, I received great benefits, so I came to express my gratitude and applaud his hard work."

The governor lamented on the 11th, the day after, that baseless 'fake news' fueling conflicts within the Democratic Party is rampant, calling it "the greatest division operation on earth has begun."

He argued that party members who exploit division for personal ambitions are likely 'traitors' benefiting the enemy, and that institutional measures should be established to impose punitive damages at an incapacitating level on media outlets that abandon journalistic integrity and are obsessed with producing fake news.