'No Possibility of Reversal' Reconfirmed
Votes Not to Be Counted After Resignation
Election Commission Has Already Completed Legal Interpretation
"Candidate Lee Nak-yeon Says 'No Objection'
'I Will Also Serve as Campaign Committee Chair' Declares
Urges Decision and Acceptance for the Party"
Lee Nak-yeon Has Not Yet Announced Official Position
Woo Won-shik, Former Co-Campaign Chair,
"Will Propose Meeting Between Lee and Lee Soon"
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, reaffirmed on the 12th that there is no possibility of overturning the presidential primary election results. Although the camp of former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who narrowly lost in second place in the primary held on the 10th, raised objections, Song declared for the second day that it is "impossible." However, Lee Nak-yeon's camp continued to emphasize the unfairness of the primary results on the same day, while Lee himself has not disclosed whether he will accept the results and has entered a period of contemplation.
In a radio interview that day, Song drew a clear line, saying, "There is no legal procedure to revisit a conclusion that has already been made." He added, "Regardless, there are objections, so many people must be unsettled. We plan to resolve this at tomorrow’s Supreme Council meeting." The key issue is whether to include the votes obtained by candidates who withdrew during the primary in the final results. This has already been concluded by the Democratic Party’s Election Commission through a legal interpretation that these votes will not be included. If these votes were included, Lee’s vote share would drop to the 49% range, falling short of half, and the Democratic Party would have to hold a runoff between Lee Jae-myung and Lee Nak-yeon.
However, Song clearly stated that there is no legal ground for dispute and plans to organize and announce a political opinion at the Supreme Council meeting on the 13th. He asserted that there is no possibility of overturning the primary results, saying, "Didn’t presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung (current Governor of Gyeonggi Province) win by more than 11%?" He urged, "Candidate Lee Nak-yeon has repeatedly declared that he will not reject the results, will serve as the campaign committee chairman, and I believe he will make a decision and accept the results for the sake of the entire party."
Choi In-ho, Chief of the Comprehensive Situation Headquarters of the Lee Nak-yeon Camp of the Democratic Party of Korea, Ko Jae-kyung, Deputy Chief of the Situation Room, and Seo Nu-ri, spokesperson, are entering the Central Party Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 11th to submit an objection to the party's presidential candidate decision by the Election Commission. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
However, Lee Nak-yeon did not issue any special official statement after saying immediately following the announcement of the primary results on the 10th, "I will speak once my mind is settled." Instead, camp officials continued to emphasize the unfairness of the primary on the same day, and internal party strife has not subsided. Seol Hoon, co-chairman of Lee Nak-yeon’s campaign, criticized, "From the beginning, (Song Young-gil) judged unfairly and one-sidedly," adding, "If this continues, it means deciding to fight the general election amid party division." On the other hand, Lee Jae-myung’s camp repeatedly urged acceptance of the primary results. Former lawmaker Woo Won-shik, who served as co-chairman of the campaign, said, "(The invalid vote controversy) was thoroughly reviewed, and the Election Commission issued an interpretation. There is no need for further discussion," adding, "It was concluded at the time that there was no problem." Woo also hinted that there will soon be a meeting between candidate Lee and Lee Nak-yeon to persuade him. He said, "We will propose a meeting as soon as possible."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
