Lee Nak-yeon Side "Lee Jae-myung Took Photo with Gwangju Violent Gang Leader"
Lee Jae-myung Side "Did Not Know He Was a Gangster... Lee Nak-yeon Also Met Twice"
Democratic Party presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and former leader Lee Nak-yeon (from left). / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The negative exchanges between Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province and presidential candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, and former party leader Lee Nak-yeon continue unabated. Lee Nak-yeon's camp released a photo on the 4th showing Lee Jae-myung together with a former 5·18 organization leader known to have ties to gangsters, asking, "What is their relationship?"
Earlier, Lee Jae-myung's camp questioned Lee Nak-yeon over a photo with Choi Seong-hae, former president of Dongyang University, who raised allegations of forgery regarding a certificate awarded to former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, asking, "What is their relationship?" In response, Lee Nak-yeon's camp countered by releasing a photo of Lee Jae-myung with a gangster.
◆ Lee Jae-myung’s side: "Lee Nak-yeon must clarify his relationship with Choi Seong-hae"
On the 4th, Lee Jae-myung’s camp demanded an explanation about the relationship between Lee Nak-yeon and Choi Seong-hae, showing a photo of the two together and asking, "What is their relationship?" Choi had raised suspicions that the certificate awarded to the daughter of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk was forged, drawing criticism from pro-Moon Jae-in supporters.
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon and former Dongyang University President Choi Sung-hae (from left). / Photo by Lee Jae-myung Open Camp
Hyun Geun-taek, spokesperson for Lee Jae-myung’s campaign, raised his voice, saying, "Lee Nak-yeon must clearly disclose what kind of relationship he has with Choi Seong-hae."
He added, "It appears the place where the two met was the Dongyang Arts Theater, operated by Dongyang University," and criticized, "How should we understand that one of the 15 people brought by an acquaintance happened to be the president of the university managing that facility?"
He also pointed out the timing of the photo. Spokesperson Hyun said, "If it was around last year’s general election, it was when the trial of former Minister Cho Kuk was in full swing," and questioned, "Everyone knows what position Choi Seong-hae held in the investigation and trial of Cho Kuk. Can we believe the explanation that he was just one of many people met during the election process?"
This is interpreted as an attempt to emphasize that Lee Nak-yeon is not a representative pro-Moon figure.
In response, Lee Nak-yeon’s camp explained, "Candidate Lee Nak-yeon met with artists residing in Jongno-gu during last year’s general election campaign period through an introduction by an acquaintance, and Choi Seong-hae appeared at the gathering with that acquaintance and took a commemorative photo."
◆ Lee Nak-yeon’s side counters: "Lee Jae-myung should explain the gangster controversy"
Amid the heated negative slander battle, Lee Nak-yeon’s camp brought up a photo of Lee Jae-myung taken with Moon Heung-sik, former chairman of the 5·18 Detained and Injured Association, countering the 'Lee Nak-yeon?Choi Seong-hae' photo.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung and the former 5·18 organization leader known to have ties to organized crime (from left). / Photo by Jung Un-hyun, Public Relations Director of Lee Nak-yeon Camp, Facebook capture
On the 4th, Jeong Un-hyeon, public relations director of Lee Nak-yeon’s campaign, said, "Since this topic came up, I want to ask one as well," and asked, "What is the relationship between Lee Jae-myung and the person in the photo with him?"
Jeong said, "The person in the photo with Lee Jae-myung is described as the 'action leader of a violent organization in Gwangju' in a first trial verdict of a certain case," and questioned, "How should we interpret the fact that the two are holding hands warmly?"
Moon, the former chairman of the 5·18 Detained and Injured Association in the photo, is also suspected of involvement in the redevelopment project related to the 'Gwangju building collapse disaster' that caused 17 casualties, and is currently believed to have fled to the United States.
A representative from Lee Jae-myung’s campaign responded, "There is also a photo of former leader Lee Nak-yeon having a conversation with the person who was chairman of the 5·18 organization," and countered, "Using such photos as grounds to talk about violent organizations is a self-destructive negative tactic."
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