Strong Measures in Response to Reports of Geonjin Beopsa Involvement
Daechang-dong Special Prosecutor Card Pulled Out Again
Is the Presidential Election Turning into a Negative Campaign?
Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is attending and speaking at a meeting held at the Social Workers Association in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, responded to the ruling party's attacks on 'shamans' with a strong measure of disbanding the 'Network Headquarters.' This came just one day after reports surfaced that Jeon Mo, a shaman operating under the name 'Geonjin Beopsa,' was involved in the Network Headquarters under the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters.
On the morning of the 18th, Kwon Young-se, head of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters, held an emergency press conference and stated, "We will continue to remove parts that could cause misunderstandings." After the conference, Kwon explained to reporters that "the candidate said it was not true that the shaman was involved in the schedule and messaging, but in politics, there is often a big difference in how the reality is perceived," adding that the disbandment of the organization reflected the candidate's strong intention.
The Democratic Party has been focusing its offensive on the spouse Kim Geon-hee and the shaman controversy since the day before, calling the People Power Party the 'Gut-him Party' (a play on words combining 'gut,' a shamanistic ritual, and the party's name). On the morning of the same day, Yoon Ho-jung, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said in a meeting, "Seeing the candidate's wife, who holds no official position, speak freely about camp personnel, media management, and plans after taking office reminded me of a preliminary Choi Soon-sil," and criticized, "Yoon's core supporters are shamans, and the king among them is his wife Kim Geon-hee."
In response to the shaman controversy, the People Power Party has pulled out the special prosecutor (special investigation) card regarding Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, and the Daejang-dong development preferential treatment allegations, turning the presidential race into a negative battle. Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, emphasized the introduction of a special prosecutor at the morning meeting, saying, "It is obvious that we cannot expect the prosecution to uncover the truth of the Lee Jae-myung gate." Citing the deaths of two key figures involved in the Daejang-dong development project, he added, "We will take measures at the party level to protect whistleblowers through the Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Center."
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