Song Young-gil "Cannot entrust national affairs to a criminal family" vs Lee Jun-seok "Candidates with 4 criminal records must be excluded"

Heated Debate Between Ruling and Opposition Presidential Candidates
Song Young-gil: "Yoon Relies on Shamanism for State Affairs"
Lee Jun-seok: "Entrusting the Country to a Four-Time Convict Is More Dangerous"

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Election Countermeasures Committee meeting held on the morning of the 24th at the Changwon Convention Center in Gyeongnam. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, exchanged heated words criticizing each other's presidential candidates.

The first salvo was fired by Leader Song. On the 24th, at the Gyeongnam Party Election Countermeasures Committee meeting held at the Changwon Convention Center in Gyeongnam, Song criticized Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, saying, "He himself, his wife, and mother-in-law are all involved in criminal allegations, a 'criminal family,'" and added, "We cannot entrust the country to someone who is accused as part of a criminal family group."

He also pointed out the so-called 'shamanism controversy' surrounding candidate Yoon. He claimed, "I am deeply worried about what will happen to South Korea if we entrust state affairs to someone who relies on shamanism."

He continued, "Watching the collapse of the Russian Empire under Nicholas II and Alexandra, who entrusted state affairs to the mystic Rasputin, recalling the damage caused by King Gongmin being swayed by Shin Don, and witnessing Choi Soon-sil's manipulation of state affairs, we have once again become vigilant. This election is one we must win not only for our party but for the uninterrupted development of South Korea," he repeatedly emphasized.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook on the 24th. / Photo by Lee Jun-seok Facebook capture

In response, Leader Lee immediately pushed back. On the same day, he shared an article containing Song's remarks on his Facebook, responding, "I think entrusting the country to a candidate with four criminal records is more dangerous."

Candidate Lee has a total of four criminal records to date, including being fined in 2003 for impersonating a public official and in 2004 for violating the Road Traffic Act.

Regarding this, Leader Lee pointedly said, "South Korea preparing for tomorrow should exclude a candidate with four criminal records."

Representative Song is delivering a congratulatory speech at the launch ceremony of the Korea Transformation Vocational Headquarters held at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeouido, Seoul, on December 23 last year. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Leader Song recently defended Candidate Lee's criminal records, saying, "They were all related to public interest."

On December 23 last year, at a meeting held at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in Yeouido, Seoul, he said, "After reading Lee's book , I realized he lived a really tough and difficult life," adding, "Although drunk driving was wrong, it happened while he was rushing to hear a whistleblower's story."

He also pointed out, "He collected 200,000 citizen signatures and requested the Seongnam City Council to build a medical center through a bill, but the council, led by the Grand National Party members, dismissed it in 47 seconds. Because of this, he shouted and was punished for obstruction of official duties, which the opposition calls a criminal record."

He emphasized, "Lee Jae-myung's life has been about standing with the common people and the vulnerable with the spirit of helping the weak and restraining the strong."