Lee Nak-yeon Side "Must Uncover Who Directed the Massive 'Election Interference, Comment Manipulation' Planning and Operation"
Lee Jae-myung Side "Completely False Claims Contrary to Facts... Must Reflect and Stop"
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The conflict between Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung and former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon is intensifying over allegations that Jin, the head of the Secretariat at the Transportation Training Institute, a public institution under Gyeonggi Province, led a smear campaign against Lee Nak-yeon on social networking services (SNS).
On the 20th, Lee Nak-yeon's side issued a statement saying, "The work carried out by the head of the Secretariat at the Transportation Training Institute, who received taxpayers' money from the residents of Gyeonggi Province every month, was an all-out 'election interference and comment manipulation,' including operating a 'Lee Nak-yeon candidate smear chat room,'" adding, "No citizen believes this was a personal deviation."
Chief spokesperson Oh Young-hoon said, "Since the Central Election Commission's investigation began, materials showing the relationship between candidate Lee Jae-myung and the head of the Secretariat have been continuously posted on SNS," and made these remarks.
Lee Nak-yeon's side focused on the minutes of the Gyeonggi Province Construction and Transportation Committee administrative audit meeting held on November 6, 2020.
Chief spokesperson Oh explained, "The hiring of the head of the Secretariat at the Gyeonggi Province Transportation Training Institute requires the approval of Gyeonggi Province after the chairman's recommendation. Jin said, 'I am consulting with the Director of the Gyeonggi Transportation Bureau and am meeting with the governor to make further efforts regarding the budget.' Considering the salary increase rates at the Transportation Training Institute (Director 5%, staff 3%, Jin 26%), it is difficult to dismiss reasonable suspicion about the relationship with candidate Lee."
He added, "Now, the substantive truth must be revealed. It is essential to find out under whose instructions this enormous 'election interference and comment manipulation' was planned and operated."
Chief spokesperson Oh said, "It is an act that abandons the minimum attitude of a public official that an employee of a public institution, who should work for the safety of Gyeonggi residents with taxpayers' money, was focusing on election manipulation and political interference," and urged, "The Central Election Commission must root out 'election interference and comment manipulation' and strictly punish regardless of rank or status."
On the other hand, Governor Lee's side labeled Lee Nak-yeon's claims as a 'fake news offensive' and urged an immediate halt.
Deputy spokesperson Jung Jin-wook criticized in a statement, "The act of stirring up confusion in the primary election through the spread of fake news is increasingly crossing the line," and asked, "I want to ask whether candidate Lee Nak-yeon has given up on recreating a democratic government through a beautiful primary election."
He then clarified that the Gyeonggi Province Transportation Training Institute is a corporation established under civil law, so the claim that Jin is a 'public official' is not true, and Jin is a full-time employee, not an executive. He also emphasized that voluntary election campaigning by corporation employees is not illegal, and since the appointment authority lies with the chairman, the claim that it is the governor is false. Furthermore, he dismissed the allegation by Lee Nak-yeon's side that Jin is a close aide based on a 'certification photo,' stating they do not know each other at all.
Deputy spokesperson Jung reiterated, "We urge reflection and immediate cessation of recent actions that are making the party primary election chaotic with completely false claims that are contrary to the facts."
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