Kim Yong-min Asks After Playing '7-Hour Recording,' "Did Mr. Kim Lead the Investigation?"
"Lee Said No Negatives but Mobilized Lawmakers," Immediate Opposition Backlash
Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 26th. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, declared a 'halt to negative election campaigns,' but just about 90 minutes later, a ruling party lawmaker played the so-called 'Kim Gun-hee recording' in the National Assembly, sparking controversy. The People Power Party strongly opposed, saying, "Lee Jae-myung's lies have been proven."
On the 26th, Kim Yong-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker, played part of the 7-hour recording of Kim Gun-hee, the spouse of People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting, then questioned Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye, saying, "Ms. Kim says she will 'deliver it to Prosecutor Han Dong-hoon.' Isn't this directing an investigation? Can't the Ministry of Justice verify this with Prosecutor Han, who is currently in office?"
In response, People Power Party lawmakers immediately opposed, saying Kim used the current issue inquiry to attack candidate Yoon.
Jang Je-won, a People Power Party lawmaker, criticized, "Minister Park refused to submit materials during his confirmation hearing citing personal information," adding, "Then should the Minister of Justice answer in the standing committee whether such materials exist regarding candidate Yoon?"
About 1 hour and 30 minutes before Kim's inquiry, candidate Lee declared at a press conference at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, that he would "completely stop negative offensives."
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, held a press conference on the morning of the 26th at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, announcing his political innovation plan. / Photo by Yonhap News
On that day, candidate Lee said, "Every time I hear that this is the most disliked presidential election beyond disappointment, I feel ashamed to face the people," and "I bow my head and apologize to the people. I will not engage in any negative campaigning going forward."
He continued, "I will only talk about the lives of the people," and urged, "I ask the opposition party to join in as well."
However, shortly after Lee's declaration, the ruling party resumed negative offensives, prompting the People Power Party to criticize it as a "deceptive show."
Lee Yang-su, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement that day, "Candidate Lee has been saying 'I won't do negative campaigning' while mobilizing Democratic Party lawmakers behind the scenes," and questioned, "What is he suddenly stopping now?"
He added, "Lee's claim to stop negative campaigning and change the Democratic Party is a blatant lie," emphasizing, "It was proven to be an election deception and a show within 90 minutes."
He also pointed out, "Candidate Lee has changed his stance on negative campaigning depending on the situation during every election," and "Even when negative campaigns against candidate Yoon were proven false, he never apologized. Now that his own cruel history of abusive language and attempting to forcibly hospitalize his older brother is about to be revealed, he says let's not do negative campaigning together."
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