"There are those trying to distort the intent of remarks to gain unintended benefits"
Former Prosecutor General and People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol is giving a greeting at the Busan Sasang District Party Committee office on the 4th. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Ahead of the second preliminary primary (cutoff) vote, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General, who claimed that "a huge number of disguised party members have joined," explained that "it was meant to raise awareness about the ruling party's political manipulation." Previously, opposition presidential candidates strongly opposed Yoon's remarks about 'disguised party members.'
On the 4th, Yoon wrote on his Facebook, "In the last party convention, with the election of Representative Lee Jun-seok and the continued party member recruitment campaign, a large number of young members joined our party," adding, "Including these, as many as 270,000 people who longed for a regime change have joined."
He continued, "However, the Democratic Party does not hesitate to do anything to maintain power. They are outright denying the Daejang-dong incident and not conducting proper investigations," and claimed, "There are also rumors that some are attempting to systematically interfere in our party's primary."
Yoon stated, "That is why, when I met party members in Busan today, I told them that the people and party members should be vigilant against the Democratic Party's political manipulation and unite tightly," adding, "Nevertheless, I regret that some are distorting the intent of my remarks and attacking me to gain reflexive benefits."
Preliminary candidates for the People Power Party's presidential primary are taking a commemorative photo at the 4th presidential primary broadcast debate held on the 28th of last month at MBC in Sangam-dong, Seoul. From the left: Hwang Kyo-ahn, Yoo Seung-min, Choi Jae-hyung, Ahn Sang-soo, Ha Tae-kyung, Yoon Seok-youl, Hong Joon-pyo, and Won Hee-ryong. / Photo by Yonhap News
On the same day, during a visit to the Sasang District Party Members' Council in Busan, Yoon claimed, "The Democratic Party regime is now extending its tentacles even into our party's primary," and asserted, "A huge number of disguised party members have joined."
According to People Power Party data, since the party convention in May when Representative Lee Jun-seok was elected, the number of party members has increased by more than 265,000. About 87% of these have applied for the status of responsible party members eligible to participate in the presidential primary, a number close to the existing 280,000 responsible party members.
Other opposition presidential candidates strongly opposed Yoon's remarks. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min wrote on Facebook, "On what basis are you saying that? Since Representative Lee Jun-seok's election, many new members, including those in their 20s and 30s, have joined. Are these people disguised party members? If you have evidence, present it immediately; if not, apologize."
The camp of lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo also stated, "Yoon's remarks are an insult to party members. It seems he only sees party members who do not support him as 'disguised party members,'" emphasizing, "The party leadership should receive an official apology from Yoon on behalf of all party members for this insult."
Meanwhile, the People Power Party plans to hold a second cutoff on the 8th to narrow down the presidential candidates to four. In the second cutoff, party member voters will be reflected at a 30% ratio.
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