Mockery and Criticism of Representative Lee Jun-seok Continue
Posts Retracting Support for Candidate Also Appear
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, and Kim Eun-hye, candidate for Governor of Gyeonggi Province, are greeting citizens on their way to work at Bucheon Station on the 28th. [Kim Eun-hye Candidate Election Camp]
[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is facing strong criticism from party members and netizens who support candidates after campaigning for party candidates running in the June 1 local elections.
On the morning of the 28th, Lee Jun-seok campaigned for Kim Eun-hye, the candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor, and in the afternoon, he campaigned for Kim Jin-tae, the candidate for Gangwon Province governor.
Both regions are highly anticipated electoral districts attracting national attention as close contests in the upcoming June 1 local elections.
On that day, Lee campaigned alongside candidate Kim, greeting commuters at Bucheon Station in Gyeonggi Province to support her.
The two also took Subway Line 1 together from Bucheon Station heading toward Yeouido.
At the Supreme Council meeting, Lee said, "I just finished morning greetings at Bucheon Station to support Kim Eun-hye, the candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor."
On the afternoon of the 28th, Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, came out to support Kim Jin-tae, the Gangwon governor candidate. [Kim Jin-tae Candidate Election Camp]
In the afternoon, Lee visited Wonju to campaign for Kim Jin-tae, the candidate for Gangwon Province governor.
The two greeted commuters at the intersection in front of AK Department Store in Dan-gye-dong, Wonju, appealing for support from Gangwon voters.
They then campaigned around the Dan-gye residential area in Wonju together with Park Jeong-ha, the party committee chairman running in the Wonju Gap by-election for the National Assembly.
It was confirmed that neither campaign requested Lee’s support rally that day.
Many posts by People Power Party supporters and netizens who saw the news of Lee’s election support contained criticism rather than encouragement.
Especially regarding the campaign support for Kim Eun-hye, there was a harsh response with mocking criticism.
On the People Power Party members’ bulletin board, posts such as "Campaigning at Bucheon Station with Lee Jun-seok, who is involved in the Kim Eun-hye Gyeonggi governor sexual bribery scandal, is ridiculous," "Is Kim Eun-hye, campaigning with the party leader who received sexual bribery, sane?" and "They are campaigning at the subway station with Kim Eun-hye... Please just resign" were posted.
The news comment sections were heated with comments like "Kim Eun-hye, who supports a candidate leading a party troubled by sexual bribery and evidence destruction, is already disqualified," "How can you campaign with Lee Jun-seok, who is involved in sexual bribery?" "When will the sexual bribery be disciplined?" and "The monthly People Power Party membership fee I pay is a waste."
On an online community, posts such as "Is it okay to do this even though disciplinary procedures are underway?" "Campaigning with Lee Jun-seok, who was referred to the Ethics Committee over sexual bribery allegations," and "I hope Kim Eun-hye did not request this campaign support" were posted.
Regarding support for Kim Jin-tae, the Gangwon governor candidate, posts like "They treat Wonju’s youth like eggs...", "Kim Jin-tae ㅠㅠ Please don’t hang out with Lee Jun-seok, seriously ㅠㅠ," and "What about the sexual bribery?" were posted.
Former Saenuri Party lawmaker Jeon Yeo-ok criticized via SNS, saying, "Lee is currently referred to the party Ethics Committee over sexual bribery allegations," and added, "There is talk that this is an attempt to divert attention."
The Democratic Party also stated on the 7th, "There is emerging evidence regarding the sexual bribery allegations surrounding Lee," and "Lee must explain the sexual bribery and evidence destruction allegations."
A former National Assembly member from the metropolitan area told this publication in an interview, "It is natural for the party leader to support party candidates during elections, and it is a great help to the candidates," but added, "Currently, Lee is under referral to the party Ethics Committee and is also criticized by People Power Party supporters over the 'complete prosecution reform' issue, so it is questionable how much help he will actually be to the candidates," withholding further comment.
There is also an interpretation that Lee launched the candidate support campaign to divert public criticism directed at himself.
Meanwhile, the People Power Party Central Ethics Committee decided on the 21st to initiate disciplinary procedures against Lee Jun-seok, who is suspected of sexual bribery.
The Ethics Committee unanimously decided at a plenary meeting to refer Lee, who has been accused of sexual bribery by civic groups and others, to the Ethics Committee.
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