"A Malignant Tumor-Like Problem of Conservatism"
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, criticized Hwang Kyo-ahn, former leader of the United Future Party, who has been continuously claiming election fraud after the 'second cut-off,' saying, "He should be ashamed."
Earlier, on the 8th, Hwang, who was eliminated in the People Power Party's second preliminary election, submitted a request to the Seoul Southern District Court for disclosure of materials related to the primary process and a provisional injunction to halt the primary, claiming, "There was election fraud in this party candidate primary as well as in the April 15 general election. It appears that the voter turnout by candidate was manipulated," demanding the disclosure of vote rates and mobile voting log records.
In response, Lee stated at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 18th, "There are some who collude with certain YouTubers to claim election fraud," adding, "Since Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won from the Fair Election Promotion Team has investigated the facts and announced the results, I declare that if anyone continues to harm the party for personal gain, strict measures will be taken."
He continued, "From today onward, those who excessively raise suspicions or objections regarding the party's election management procedures will be referred to the party's Ethics Committee and dealt with severely."
After the meeting, Lee told reporters, "I feel deeply annoyed as the claims of election fraud and reverse selection are becoming increasingly baseless," explaining, "The reason I express this so bluntly is that after the April 15 general election, there is a politician who has been damaging his own reputation by claiming election fraud. I hope no politician follows that path."
Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is reviewing documents at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 18th. / Photo by Yonhap News
Meanwhile, in an interview on YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Start of a New Morning' on the 18th, Lee also referred to the claims of unfair primaries as "a malignant tumor within conservatism," stating, "Since last year's general election, a culture has taken root where every time they lose an election, they cry election fraud or reverse selection if they feel disadvantaged, and this must be decisively cut off."
He added, "The presidential primary is the party's biggest event and should be elevated to a festival, but acts that pour cold water on it by raising fairness disputes are punishable offenses."
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