"Kim Jaewon Is Our Party's Strongest Potential Candidate If Manipulation of the Ruling Party Primary Is Possible"
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party (left), is discussing with Kim Jae-won, senior member of the People Power Party, at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 8th. [Photo by Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, criticized Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member of the same party, on the 11th regarding the controversy over his application to the Democratic Party's primary election electorate, saying, "Instead of blaming anyone, he should reflect on sending infinite spam to the public in an attempt to forcibly increase the electorate."
In a post on his Facebook that day, Lee said, "The Democratic Party made a fuss with spokesperson comments, saying that Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won joined the electorate after receiving text messages asking Democratic Party figures to participate in the electorate, but I also received 'many' of those messages."
He pointed out, "Your election results will not be distorted by just one person, Supreme Council member Kim, but if that is possible, it means the Democratic Party is admitting that its primary election system is flawed."
He added, "If it is true that Supreme Council member Kim has the power to manipulate the Democratic Party primary in a certain direction by inciting the masses, then he is immediately the strongest potential candidate in our party."
Photo by Jaewon Kim, screenshot from the Facebook page of Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party.
Earlier, Supreme Council member Kim publicly encouraged participation in the Democratic Party primary electorate through his Facebook. He said, "Democratic presidential candidates have been sending text messages one after another asking people to apply to the national electorate. I gladly completed the application to cast a vote."
He continued, "Unless actress Kim Bu-seon declares support, I don't feel inclined toward candidate Lee Jae-myung," and added, "So far, my heart goes to candidate Chu Mi-ae, who appeared on TV and sang 'Woman President' as her life song in one verse. Of course, my feelings may change." He also urged, "Everyone, please apply to the Democratic Party national electorate and help with regime change."
Kim's remarks seem to point out that increasing the proportion of public opinion polls in the presidential primary process could cause adverse effects such as reverse voting.
In response, voices of criticism have emerged from the ruling party. Lee So-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, mentioned Kim's remarks in a written briefing, saying, "A member of the leadership of the main opposition party is unjustly interfering in another party's primary and inciting collective reverse voting by their supporters."
She added, "This is a shocking act that shows the political level and a facet of the People Power Party, the main opposition party of South Korea," and said, "You should be ashamed."
She further stated, "Interfering in another party's primary and inducing falsehoods and reverse voting is an illegal and unjust act restricted by the Public Official Election Act," and raised her voice, "The Democratic Party will never overlook Supreme Council member Kim's actions that disrupt public opinion, disturb the democratic selection process of the presidential election, and unjustly interfere in the selection of the opposing party's candidate, and will actively consider legal measures."
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