"Jang Young-ha Accused of Defamation"... Ruling Party Files Complaint Against Lawyer Who Released 'Lee Jae-myung Recording'

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, announced senior citizen policy pledges after attending the event "A Happy Retirement Korea, Listening to the Voices of the Elderly" held at the Dongjak Senior Citizens' Center in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The Democratic Party of Korea has filed a complaint with the prosecution against lawyer Jang Young-ha, who released the '160-minute phone call' recording of Lee Jae-myung, the party's presidential candidate, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

The Democratic Party's Election Countermeasures Committee's National Verification Legal Support Team stated in a press release on the afternoon of the 19th, "We have filed a complaint with the prosecution against Jang Young-ha (lawyer), a member of the People Power Party's Lee Jae-myung National Verification Special Committee, for defamation of the candidate by releasing 34 phone call recordings containing Lee Jae-myung candidate's abusive language."

They added, "Regardless of the candidate's qualifications for public office, releasing the recordings of abusive language during disputes with his brother and sister-in-law and holding a press conference is a clear case of defamation of the candidate," and explained, "This damages the credibility and objectivity of the presidential election, misleads voters' choices in the imminent election, and raises serious concerns about significantly harming the public interest."

The complaint states, "(Lawyer Jang) posted the phone call recordings containing Lee's abusive language on Facebook and disclosed them to media organizations with the purpose of electing People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl and causing Lee's defeat. According to precedent and legal principles, the purpose of election or defeat is sufficiently recognized."

Furthermore, it says, "Considering the special circumstances under which the candidate used abusive language, it was merely an internal family dispute involving the candidate's family," and "It is clear that this is not a public interest matter necessary for verifying the candidate's qualifications for public office."

'Goodbye Lee Jae-myung' author lawyer Jang Young-ha is holding a press conference on the afternoon of the 18th at the National Assembly Communication Office regarding the curse file of Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea. / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 18th, lawyer Jang released to the media a 160-minute recording containing Lee's voice, including abusive language. He also uploaded the file on his Facebook, but it is currently not publicly accessible due to Facebook's operational policies.

The released file includes content where the candidate verbally abuses his brother, Jae-seon, and sister-in-law, Park In-bok, over the phone, and also mentions Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of planning at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, who is currently on trial as a key defendant in the Daejang-dong development project preferential treatment and lobbying allegations.

Meanwhile, Lee apologized repeatedly regarding his recording on the same day, saying, "It was something that happened in a situation unbearable for an individual."

He added, "Please understand that he (my brother) was not in a normal state," and "It will never happen again. The mother, who was the victim, is no longer here, and he, who committed violence and betrayal beyond human endurance due to an abnormal mental illness, has also left."