"Support for Proportional Representation Party, Using Microphone Under the Pretext of a Press Conference"
The People Power Party announced that it will file a complaint against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for violating the Public Official Election Act.
The Clean Election Headquarters of the People Power Party Central Election Committee stated on the 24th in a public setting that they will file a complaint against Lee for allegedly using a microphone during an election campaign disguised as a press conference while making statements supporting proportional representation party candidates.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding an emergency on-site press conference in front of Yeongdeungpo Station in Seoul on the 5th. In the conference, Lee criticized the recent Sacheon controversy and the departure of Vice Chairman Kim Young-joo from the party as well as his joining the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
The headquarters pointed out, "Lee is a candidate running in the Democratic Party's Incheon Gyeyang-gu E district, but the day before, he campaigned for a candidate from another party in Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province," adding, "This clearly violates the Public Official Election Act." They also stated, "Lee is accused of using a microphone under the pretense of a press conference during local campaigning as a trick," and criticized, "He effectively conducted an election campaign to a large crowd by borrowing the format of a press conference, selectively answered reporters' questions, and mainly engaged in a de facto campaign against People Power Party candidates."
The controversial statement was made the previous day in Pocheon City, where Lee said, "This was Seo Seung-man, number 24 on the Democratic United Coalition proportional representation list," and added, "We must get all 24 elected." The Democratic United Coalition is a satellite party for the opposition proportional representation coalition and is legally a separate party from the Democratic Party. Furthermore, before using the microphone on site, Lee hinted that it was a press conference by addressing "members of the press" and similar expressions.
Park Jeong-ha, spokesperson for the Central Election Committee, stated in a commentary that day, "It is a clear violation of the law for the leader of the Democratic Party, who is running as a candidate under the Democratic Party banner, to appeal for support for a candidate from a party other than the Democratic Party."
Spokesperson Park criticized, "Lee repeatedly uses the format of a press conference as a trick to evade election law regulations that prohibit microphone use outside the official campaign period, like a slippery eel." He added, "Strict measures must be taken against Lee's blatant violation of the election law," and urged "the relevant authorities to respond strictly and promptly."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
