Lee Jae-myung Side: "A Typical Case of Repaying Goodwill with Malice"
Lee Nak-yeon Side: "Typical Negative Campaigning"
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The 'verification' dispute between Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Lee Nak-yeon, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, shows no signs of subsiding. Attacks, defenses, and counterattacks continue.
Kim Young-jin, a Democratic Party lawmaker and chief of Lee Jae-myung's campaign situation room, appeared on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" on the 27th and said, "The verification will probably continue," directly criticizing, "(Former leader) Lee Nak-yeon has no legitimacy or justification as the legitimate candidate of Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in." He continued his attack, suggesting that Lee Nak-yeon supported the impeachment of the late President Roh Moo-hyun.
Regarding the 'Baekje remarks,' which Lee Nak-yeon's side criticizes as promoting regionalism, Kim said, "Lee Nak-yeon’s success is the most desirable thing for Honam and South Korea. Taking a part of his sincere words wishing for success and twisting them into accusations of promoting regionalism is truly a narrow-minded distortion," adding, "It is a typical process of repaying good intentions with malice." He claimed that it was rather Lee Nak-yeon's side that summoned regionalism.
Lee Jae-myung's campaign also requested the day before that the agreement document for the 'One Team Agreement Ceremony' hosted by the Democratic Party leadership on the 28th include a clause stating that "in cases of clear black propaganda, the party will strongly sanction the relevant campaign or individuals."
On the other hand, Lee Nak-yeon's side did not let up on the attacks accusing promotion of regionalism. Choi In-ho, chief of Lee Nak-yeon's campaign situation headquarters, said on the same broadcast that day, "I read (Lee Jae-myung’s interview transcript) about five times. The conclusion is that it clearly revealed a perception of impossibility toward a specific region," and added, "Toward the end, he clearly said that the nationwide and regional expansion power lies with him (Lee Jae-myung), and he clearly argued that it is difficult because it is a specific region."
Regarding Lee Nak-yeon's vote during the impeachment of the late President Roh, Choi said, "I heard several times from candidate Lee Nak-yeon that he opposed it, and he clearly stated his opposition in TV news and various interviews." He then attacked, saying, "To even accuse him of lying is a typical negative tactic. Isn't candidate Lee Jae-myung the one who led the attacking remarks and actions politically when President Roh Moo-hyun was in considerable political difficulty during the latter part of his term?"
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