People Power Party Moves to Quell Controversy Over 2nd Cutoff Vote Percentage... "Investigation into Election Fraud Underway"

Han Ki-ho "Do Not Undermine Fair Primary Management with Speculative Articles"

Kim Jae-won "If Manipulation Is Found, We Will Seek the Maximum Legal Punishment and Strictly Hold Accountable for False Claims"

The People Power Party announced on the 8th that four candidates?Yoon Seok-yeol, Hong Joon-pyo, Yoo Seung-min, and Won Hee-ryong?passed the second preliminary round (cutoff) of the presidential primary. The People Power Party Election Commission conducted a primary opinion poll over two days starting from the 6th, reflecting 70% from a general public survey and 30% from party member elector voting to select the top four candidates. The ranking and specific vote percentages for each candidate were not disclosed. From left to right in the photo: candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, candidate Hong Joon-pyo, candidate Yoo Seung-min, candidate Won Hee-ryong. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group.

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] After the second cut-off in the People Power Party's presidential primary, controversy over the vote percentages among candidates continued, prompting the party to step in to calm the situation. According to the Public Official Election Act, the support rates and rankings of preliminary primary opinion polls cannot be disclosed. However, some media outlets reported vote percentages, leading candidates to express dissatisfaction.

On the 9th, Han Ki-ho, Vice Chairman of the People Power Party Election Commission, held a briefing and stated, "There are four organizations conducting the party member elector voting opinion polls, and they do not share data with each other. When submitting to the party election commission, they met face-to-face." He added, "The voting and opinion poll figures were confirmed and tallied by a limited number of people just before the announcement of the results."

Vice Chairman Han also mentioned that voting-related materials were destroyed on-site. He said, "We are maintaining strict security."

He urged against speculative reporting, saying, "Publishing speculative results or rankings of opinion polls is clearly a violation of election law." He earnestly requested, "We sincerely ask for cooperation to prevent any harm to the fair management of the primary caused by speculative articles."

Meanwhile, the People Power Party plans to investigate allegations of election fraud claimed by former Future United Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, who was defeated in the second cut-off.

Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council member and head of the People Power Party's Fair Election Promotion Team, stated, "We will investigate the allegations immediately." On his Facebook, Kim said, "If there is anyone who manipulated the results, they will receive the severest legal punishment, and the vote rankings will be corrected." He also warned, "If false claims are made recklessly, those who spread false information will be held strictly accountable."