On the day before the official start of the election campaign for the October 16 by-elections, a slander battle broke out between the candidates for the governor of Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do.
Democratic Party candidate Jo Sang-rae (left) and Jokuk Innovation Party candidate Park Woong-doo. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 2nd, Park Woong-du, head of the election campaign headquarters for the Gokseong-gun governor candidate of the Party for National Innovation, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall and criticized, "Among the people around Cho Sang-rae, the Democratic Party candidate, many were punished under election laws in the 2022 local elections. Cho’s spouse was fined 800,000 won for violating the Public Official Election Act along with close aides, and his cousin was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation for providing money related to the election."
Park’s side stated, "Despite the spouse, close aides, and cousin having a history of election law violations, they are helping from close proximity, and Cho candidate ran without any statement regarding this. This is an act of disrespect toward Gokseong voters, and an apology should come first before the official election campaign begins."
Cho’s side retorted, "They should clean up their own acts first," and added, "We want to ask whether it is fitting with the values of the Party for National Innovation to pick on surrounding figures who have already been legally judged and punished."
Cho’s side also pointed out, "Didn’t Park himself receive a fine of 1.5 million won for obstruction of official duties? Smearing the opposing candidate and turning it into an issue is not the attitude of a candidate who advocates fair elections."
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