Roughening Yuan-Kan... Ruling Party Election Commission Recommends Stopping Negatives Again (Comprehensive)

Controversy Expands, Sanctions to Be Imposed if Produced
Debate Expected to Continue Due to Scheduled Forum
Pro-Han-gye Focuses Attack on Won Hee-ryong's 'Intentional Defeat' Remarks

The People Power Party's Election Commission warned on the 11th that "if the current controversy continues to escalate and be reproduced, we will actively respond with disciplinary measures specified in the party's constitution and regulations," addressing the party leader candidates engaged in negative campaigning. This is interpreted as targeting the rough exchanges between candidates Won Hee-ryong and Han Dong-hoon, who have hurled harsh words such as 'lying politics,' 'old-fashioned politics,' 'intentional defeat,' and 'multiple personality' at each other, turning the July 23 party convention into a mudslinging fight (泥田鬪狗).

On the same day, the party's Election Commission issued a statement regarding the recent controversy, saying, "The currently controversial matters of a defamatory nature are leading to a wasteful battle over the truth by reproducing various unfounded speculations," and added, "This clearly does not appear to be an activity aimed at illuminating the future vision of the People Power Party or promoting party unity."

This is the second time the Election Commission has issued a ban on negative campaigning to the candidates. On the 8th, before the joint speech event for Honam and Jeju held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju, Seo Byung-soo, chairman of the People Power Party Election Commission, called in the four party leader candidates and advised them not to engage in negative campaigning. On the same day, Hwang Woo-yeo, chairman of the party's Emergency Response Committee, warned at the committee meeting, "We must heed some criticisms that the party convention is turning into an excessive blame game," and added, "Any conduct violating the party's constitution and regulations will be immediately subject to strict measures through the Election Commission and the Ethics Committee."

Won Hee-ryong, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is being interviewed by Asia Economy in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

However, the verbal sparring between candidates Won and Han is expected to intensify. On the same day, they exchanged heated words again via Facebook. Candidate Won posted in the morning on Facebook a message titled "'Baseless' Candidate Han Dong-hoon, will you resign if your lies are exposed?" stating, "Candidate Han denied reports that he recommended former emergency committee member Kim Kyung-yul as Financial Supervisory Service chief as 'baseless.' He also categorically denies allegations of election manipulation and the existence of a private public opinion formation team," and questioned, "Will you resign if even one of the three allegations?election manipulation, private public opinion team, or Kim Kyung-yul recommendation?is true?"

Candidate Han responded via Facebook after Won's post, saying, "I respond to Candidate Won Hee-ryong's continuous false defamatory remarks. There is absolutely no such fact." He continued, "Candidate Won made false defamatory remarks that my family interfered in the nomination process, and during the recent TV Chosun debate, he used the Election Commission as an excuse, promising not to continue such behavior, yet he refused to reflect or apologize," adding, "He changed his words again and, less than a day later, is fervently spreading false defamatory remarks. Like public urination, he spreads filth and runs away. I will change this old-fashioned politics of false defamation together with party members and comrades."

In response, Candidate Won again posted on Facebook, "A novice politician who learns to lie first does not deserve to call party members comrades. Now it is time to be verified on the skill of lying," and questioned, "So, are you saying you will resign if your lies are exposed?" The second broadcast debate scheduled for the afternoon will also feature exchanges between candidates Han and Won regarding Han's nomination-related allegations.

Handonghun, the People Power Party's representative candidate, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Yeouido camp office in Seoul. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@

Meanwhile, pro-Han faction lawmakers appear to be pushing back against Candidate Won's remark accusing Candidate Han of 'intentional defeat' in the general election. Won repeatedly raised nomination allegations on Channel A's YouTube the previous day, and after the joint speech event for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, he told reporters, "Given the desperate situation for election victory, one cannot help but consider whether the general election was intentionally led to defeat."

Lawmaker Song Seok-jun wrote on Facebook, "I was shocked to see the theory of intentional defeat in the general election, saying 'Ignoring text conversations meant intentionally losing the election.' As a lawmaker from the metropolitan area, I had to personally witness and observe the People Power Party's crushing defeat in the metropolitan area," and pointed out, "I believe the fundamental cause of the election defeat was a complex result of the ruling party's failure to properly manage the collapsing livelihood of the people, failure to properly punish evil phenomena, and failure to resolve numerous conflicts, which only worsened."

Lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin also criticized, saying, "At that time, Chairman Han's arms and hands were covered with bandages and plasters. He was running around the country receiving IV drips until his blood vessels burst," and added, "All previous party leaders have done their best to protect and save our candidates in elections. How can a party leader candidate who has witnessed this process for over 20 years raise 'intentional defeat allegations'? This crosses the line."

Lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk, who is running for the Supreme Council member in this party convention, said, "It is like grabbing a passerby in broad daylight and accusing them of being a murderer without any basis, demanding proof that they did not kill, and beating them up. The expression 'a thief running around with a club' fits perfectly," and questioned, "Intentional defeat in the election? Did Candidate Won lose the election on purpose to get sympathy votes and become party leader?"

Lawmaker Go Dong-jin also joined the criticism, saying, "I understand Candidate Won also worked tirelessly as a joint election campaign committee member for People Power Party candidates in the last general election," but added, "However, the remark about 'intentional defeat in the general election' is an insulting statement that disparages the efforts of all People Power Party candidates, including local voters who supported Candidate Won, and the 44.39% of nationwide voters who supported us."

[Image source=Yonhap News]