Song Young-gil "I will create an atmosphere where everyone becomes one team"
Former leader of the Democratic Party, Lee Nak-yeon, is greeting supporters after the disbandment ceremony of the Lee Nak-yeon Pil-yeon Camp held at Daesan Building in Yeouido, Seoul on the 14th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] After Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, was selected as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, aftershocks from the primary election turmoil continue. Despite former leader Lee Nak-yeon's concession, some figures who were part of Lee Nak-yeon's camp have criticized Governor Lee, raising concerns about a 'one-team crisis.'
Lee Sang-yi, a professor at Jeju National University and former chairman of the Welfare State Vision Committee in Lee Nak-yeon's camp, opened his remarks on the 17th through his Facebook, stating, "The Democratic Party primary ended with the 'misapplication of special party rules' and Lee Jae-myung candidate's 'coercive victory.'"
He pointed out, "The Democratic Party leadership made a serious error by misinterpreting and misapplying the ambiguously defined special party rules," adding, "The Democratic Party leadership's action to exclude votes legally obtained by a withdrawn candidate before withdrawal from the denominator does not align with the purpose of the runoff voting system."
He continued, "Regarding the Democratic Party presidential primary, I clearly state the fact that 'Candidate Lee Jae-myung and Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil violated the procedural legitimacy of the primary.' Therefore, I appealed to accept the runoff vote to form a true one-team based on procedural legitimacy," criticizing, "However, Candidate Lee Jae-myung and Leader Song Young-gil chose 'coercive victory' instead of a 'true one-team.'"
Professor Lee also emphasized, "I have occasionally witnessed some politicians forcing party members and supporters to concede in the name of 'one-team.' This is no different from suppressing the constitutional right of 'freedom of conscience,' so I request that such remarks cease."
Presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung attended the Democratic Party of Korea's members' meeting held at the National Assembly in Seoul on the morning of the 15th and applauded Party Leader Song Young-gil's remarks. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Earlier, Jeong Un-hyeon, former public relations director of Lee Nak-yeon's camp, also directly attacked Governor Lee on his Facebook on the 15th, saying, "He is someone who would willingly sell out even his own country to achieve his goals."
He criticized, "At least in my surroundings, Lee Jae-myung uses 'double curses against his sister-in-law' unheard of anywhere else, and he is a 'four-time convicted criminal' with 'plagiarized theses' that no one around me has," adding, "Truly, there is nothing he cannot do. Lying is the most basic among basics."
Jeong also wrote in another post that day, "Today, Lee Jae-myung, who attended the Democratic Party lawmakers' meeting, praised Lee Nak-yeon, saying he was 'truly moved by his dignity and generosity.' If that was sincere, he should not have treated him so recklessly even during an election."
He added, "Looking at Lee Jae-myung's usual words and actions, today's remarks can be called insincere lies," and said, "Today, Lee Jae-myung was rude again to Seol Hoon and Lee Nak-yeon. A person without fundamentals behaves like this no matter what he does."
Meanwhile, Leader Song said in an interview with MBN the previous day, "I will do my best to create an atmosphere where former leader Lee can willingly participate as the head of Lee Jae-myung's campaign committee," and "There will soon be a meeting between the President and candidate Lee Jae-myung, and we will work to create an atmosphere where everyone becomes one team."
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