Hong Jun-pyo and Yoon Seok-yeol Camps Clash Over 'ARS Party Member Vote Identity Verification'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] As the survey questions for the main primary to select the People Power Party's presidential candidate have been decided, a battle of nerves has begun over the mobile and telephone voting methods for the electorate, which account for the remaining 50% weight excluding the general public opinion survey. Although the party's election management committee approved a compromise plan that asks questions based on hypothetical matchups with a 'four-choice multiple answer' format, voices of dissatisfaction have leaked out, resulting in only a 'half-hearted reconciliation.'

On the 27th, Joo Ho-young, chairman of Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign election committee, said at a press conference, "Representative Hong's side sent an official letter to the party's election management committee requesting the introduction of identity verification procedures for the automated response system (ARS) telephone voting," adding, "Stop actions that hinder elderly voting immediately." Despite calling registered responsible party members to confirm their membership before voting, the ARS procedure has been complicated, allegedly intending to lower the voting rate among the elderly.

Representative Joo emphasized, "It has been objectively proven by polling data that there is about 15% reverse voting against (Hong candidate)," and added, "Despite the concern over reverse voting not being eliminated at all, we fully agreed and conceded to the four-choice multiple answer question format that Representative Hong has insisted on."

In response, Cho Kyung-tae, chairman of Hong Joon-pyo's campaign election committee, held a press conference stating, "As long as there is concern about proxy voting, a safety device such as ARS identity verification must be established," and claimed, "Reports suspecting organized proxy voting have been received by the party's election management committee."

Representative Cho pointed out, "A text message sent to party members by a certain party branch chairman," stating that the chairman sent a group text message to party members saying, "If you have difficulty with text voting, please contact us and we will help you." The message was sent by Lee Chang-sung, chairman of the Suwon Gap party branch and head of the southern Gyeonggi election campaign headquarters for Yoon Seok-yeol's camp.

Regarding this, Yoon Seok-yeol's camp rebutted, saying, "It means to inform them of a way to vote via mobile instead of text voting."

Representative Cho protested, saying, "I cannot understand at all" after the party's election management committee rejected the request for identity verification, adding, "Even a single case of proxy voting would affect the overall credibility."