"Released Without Edits as Interpreted by the Election Commission" Lee's 'Sister-in-Law Insult' Recording Played by Pro-Moon Group

Election Commission "Difficult to Conclude Original Distribution Aimed at Defamation or Election Loss," Legal Interpretation
Pro-Moon Group Says "More Horrifying the More You Hear" as Original 'Sister-in-Law Insult' Played at Rally

On the 18th, the pro-Moon Jae-in faction's minor party "Kkaeeoissneun Simin Yeondae Dang (Kkaesiyon)" held a rally condemning Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, on a street in Seomyeon, Busan. Photo by YouTube channel "KkaesiyonTV" capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Ju-hee] As the Democratic Party of Korea warned of legal action regarding the distribution of the so-called 'brother-in-law curse' recording file of presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, it has been confirmed that a pro-Moon Jae-in faction group recently played this recording file at a rally condemning the candidate.

The pro-Moon faction's extraparliamentary party, the Awake Citizens Solidarity Party (Kkaesiyon), held a rally condemning candidate Lee on the 18th on a street in Seomyeon, Busan.

At the rally, Kkaesiyon said, "Should we elect such a candidate? We will play the full video (original unedited version) as the National Election Commission (NEC) wants," and played the original recording file of candidate Lee's brother-in-law curse using a large amplifier.

After the recording was played, a Kkaesiyon official took the stage and said, "The more you listen, the more terrible these people are. It gives you goosebumps," raising their voice, "We should be ashamed that such a person is a presidential candidate."

Kkaesiyon also demanded the replacement of the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, mentioning candidate Lee's son's illegal habitual gambling and prostitution allegations.

Banners with phrases criticizing candidate Lee, such as "Those who obstruct the investigation into lawyer fee payments are accomplices" and "We will fight until the day of arrest," were hung on the rally stage that day.

The next day, on the 19th, Kkaesiyon uploaded an 11-minute and 27-second video with subtitles of candidate Lee's brother-in-law curse recording file titled "The full video that the NEC said should be played without editing out the double curses!" on their YouTube channel 'KkaesiyonTV'.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Earlier, on the 16th, the NEC issued an interpretation stating that it is difficult to consider the distribution of the original recording file of candidate Lee's brother-in-law curse as a violation of the Public Official Election Act. However, the NEC explained, "Arbitrarily editing only the curse parts and posting or distributing them on the internet, social networking services (SNS), or via text messages, or broadcasting them through recording devices attached to speech or debate vehicles, is unlikely to be regarded as truthful facts concerning public interest and may constitute defamation of a candidate."

In response, the Democratic Party insists that if the recording file is disclosed for the purpose of defamation or causing electoral defeat, it is absolutely illegal.

Seo Young-kyo, the general situation manager of the Democratic Party's election countermeasures committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 19th and said, "I understand some claim that playing the entire original file is not illegal, but that is false," adding, "If the recording file is distributed or played with the intent to defame or cause electoral defeat, it is absolutely illegal and subject to legal punishment."

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