"Defamation Intent Is Absolutely Illegal"... Ruling Party Cracks Down on 'Lee Jae-myung's Sister-in-law Insult' Recording Files

The Election Commission states "Not a violation of election law" regarding the original file distribution of 'sister-in-law curse'... The ruling party says "It is always illegal if intended for defeat or defamation"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, attended the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government on the 18th, greeting Chairwoman Seo Young-kyo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Regarding the distribution of the original recording file of Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate's so-called 'insulting his sister-in-law,' the Democratic Party of Korea has claimed, "If the recording file is distributed for the purpose of defamation or losing an election, it is absolutely illegal and subject to legal punishment."

Seo Young-kyo, the head of the campaign headquarters' general situation office, held a press conference at the Yeouido party office on the 19th and stated, "Some parties, including the People Power Party, are distributing and reproducing parts of private phone call recordings for the purpose of disparaging a specific candidate."

He said, "Arbitrarily editing and citing only the insulting parts from the 14-minute phone call recording constitutes defamation of a candidate under Article 251 of the Public Official Election Act, so it is clearly illegal," and emphasized, "Even distributing the original recording can be considered an illegal act under election law if the purpose is defamation or losing the election, depending on the context."

When asked by reporters how the act of distributing the original recording file can be interpreted as aiming for a specific candidate's defeat, he strongly asserted, "This is the time for that," and added, "It is clearly an act of misleading and deceiving (to cause defeat)."

He continued, "If such acts recur in the future, the Democratic Party will take firm legal measures to practice fair elections," and stated, "We demand that the National Election Commission and the police take proactive and swift measures against the ongoing editing of candidates' phone call recordings."

Earlier, Song Ki-heon, the head of the Democratic Party's legal support group, requested an interpretation from the Central Election Commission on the 13th regarding the distribution of the recording file of Lee's insulting his sister-in-law. In response, the Election Commission issued an interpretation on the 16th stating, "It is difficult to conclude that simply distributing the original recording file containing the candidate's insults violates Article 251 (defamation of a candidate) of the Public Official Election Act." However, the Democratic Party has raised its voice, insisting that if there is an intention of defamation or causing defeat, it is absolutely illegal.