Kim Byung-joon: "Lee Jae-myung, who defended 'nephew murder,' has a violent nature... unfit to be a leader"

Kim Byung-joon Launches Attack on Lee Jae-myung
First Official Campaign Committee Meeting Scheduled for the 29th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Kim Byung-joon, the Standing Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, fiercely criticized Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, for having defended his nephew in a past mother-and-daughter murder case, saying, "Should a person with authoritarian thinking and judgment standards, and a violent disposition, be given the gun and sword of power?"

On the 28th, Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly and stated, "Even though today is Sunday, I stand here to tell the people how this era is changing, and whether Candidate Lee of the Democratic Party should even be running as a candidate in light of these changes in the times."

He criticized Candidate Lee for defending his nephew Kim in the 2006 case where Kim murdered his ex-girlfriend, who had broken up with him, and her mother, as well as for referring to the incident as 'dating violence' on his social media on the 24th. This was Kim's first public appearance since announcing on the 26th at a press conference that he accepted the position of Standing Election Committee Chairman and intended to work hard.

Kim pointed at Candidate Lee, saying, "He has self-centered authoritarian thinking and judgment standards, violence, and too easily offers apologies," and added, "He reminds me of the protagonist of a violent movie."

He continued, "How can a politician-lawyer use 'diminished mental capacity' as a kind of defense technique?" and "Moreover, how can he call murder 'dating violence'?" He then criticized, "He is unqualified as a political leader."

He also added, "The murder case he defended was not an ordinary murder case," and "It was a bizarre case where the victim was stabbed 18 and 19 times respectively, totaling 37 times."

Kim emphasized again, "People often talk about Candidate Lee's strong execution power. But we must not forget that behind his execution power lies this authoritarian thinking and judgment standards, and a violent disposition."

After the press conference, Kim informed reporters that the election committee's full-scale activities would begin. When asked, "Can we say the election committee has effectively started as a one-top system?" Kim replied, "We will have the first official meeting tomorrow morning," and added, "You can say it is the start."

However, when asked about the frequent calls to bring former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in back, Kim avoided a direct answer, saying, "I think it is better if I do not comment on that issue."

Meanwhile, Kim is scheduled to visit Sejong Special Self-Governing City from the 29th for a 2-night, 3-day trip with Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, and the general headquarters team. This will be the first regional schedule since the launch of the election committee, and it is reported that regional activities will continue thereafter.