3rd Presidential Debate
On Solutions to Polarization
Lee: "We Need an Electoral Revolution"
On May 27, Lee Junseok, the Reform New Party's presidential candidate, called for an end to political polarization, urging voters to "elect a president who tells the truth, not one who lies. Choose overwhelming newness, not outdated vested interests."
During the third televised presidential debate held that evening at the MBC studio in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Lee criticized, "The most serious fake news in our society is the conspiracy theory of election fraud. A president who became obsessed with conspiracy theories declared martial law."
Targeting Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party candidate, and Kim Moonsu, the People Power Party candidate, he said, "The original agitators of the election fraud conspiracy theory are right here. I do not believe that agitators on either side truly believed in election fraud and spread these conspiracy theories."
He continued, "To rally political fandoms, to avoid admitting electoral defeat, or even to make money, they went so far as to make movies about election fraud, playing the role of conspiracy theory swindlers. The biggest problem in our society is that even after deceiving the public like this, they neither reflect nor apologize."
Directing his remarks at Lee Jaemyung, Lee Junseok raised his voice, saying, "Even now, when presented with evidence that he fell for conspiracy theories, he keeps repeating the irresponsible lie, 'I don't remember.'"
He went on, "Whether it was copying claims from German communists to lecture the public with so-called hotel economics, asserting that the cost of coffee is 120 won, or talking about Turtle Island becoming a ghost island?if his statements were wrong, he should simply apologize. Instead, he insists he is right, mobilizing his political fandom to launch attacks. Because of such bad politicians, political polarization worsens, and our country is now suffering from extreme conflict."
He added, "I believe the time has come for an orange-hued electoral revolution," and appealed for support by declaring, "Lee Junseok will change Korean politics."
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