Democratic Party Primary, Past Disputes 'Escalate'... Song Young-gil "Concerned About Negativity"

"Where Were You During Former President Roh Moo-hyun's Impeachment?" Legitimate Succession Debate Intensifies
Lee Jae-myung: "Even Gangsters Don't Touch Family... Feeling Self-Disgust"
Lee Sang-min, Chairman of the Election Commission: "Excessive Actions Will Be Warned by Authority"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party's presidential primary is heating up, escalating into disputes over past actions. The debate over the party's legitimacy flared up, citing the time when the impeachment motion against former President Roh Moo-hyun was passed, and personal attacks continue unabated. The leadership expressed concern that this could cause aftereffects that break the 'one team' spirit and has begun efforts to purify the process.

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun appeared on the radio on the 23rd, stating, "I was the one who stayed at the chairman's seat until the end to protect President Roh Moo-hyun and prevent the impeachment," and added, "Candidate Chu Mi-ae was in that party (the Millennium Democratic Party) together with former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon."

He once again pointed out that the Millennium Democratic Party supported the impeachment motion against former President Roh during the vote when the Democratic Party split into the Uri Party and the Millennium Democratic Party. Former Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "We must clarify what needs to be clarified," and said, "If you look at the Democratic Party, I am the candidate with the most legitimacy. I have always stood at the center connecting Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in."

As Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's camp raised the issue of former leader Lee's responsibility for the impeachment of former President Roh, and Lee countered by saying he voted against the impeachment in a secret ballot, other candidates have also joined the fray. Another presidential candidate, Congressman Kim Doo-kwan, said in a radio interview that day, "Since it was a secret ballot, we cannot know how it was done, but in any case, (former leader Lee) belonged to a party that led the impeachment by colluding with the Grand National Party, so he cannot be free from that point." Congressman Kim also continued criticism of former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, saying that the guilty verdict against Gyeongnam Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo was triggered by a self-inflicted wound from the accusation of comment manipulation during Chu's tenure as party leader.

Earlier, Governor Lee's camp raised suspicions about former leader Lee Nak-yeon's past glorification of former Presidents Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan, and supporters of former leader Lee released another audio file of Lee Jae-myung's profanity, causing a stir. Governor Lee appeared on a YouTube broadcast the day before and said, "There is a saying that even gangsters don't touch family, but my wife has been relentlessly and cruelly targeted," adding, "The negative attacks are even more severe within our own ranks than from the opposing camp. I feel a sense of self-disgust and it is heartbreaking."

In response, Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "Due to the negativity, there is concern among party members and the public," and added, "I hope the primary can be a high-level competition where policy questions and mutual debates occur with consideration and respect for opponents. The election commission will also conclude such an agreement and guide the competition to focus more on the future."

Lee Sang-min, chairman of the Democratic Party's election commission, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "We will arrange a signing ceremony among the candidates as soon as possible, and I will issue warnings ex officio against excessive defamation and slander."