"Defending Democracy in the Spirit of May 18"
Criticism of Candidate Lee Junseok's Remarks Disparaging Women
K-Cultural Capital Construction Committee Also Declares Support
During the two days of early voting for the 21st presidential election, which recorded the highest voter turnout in history, current and former local council members from the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions publicly declared their support for candidate Lee Jaemyung.
On the 30th, current and former members of the basic and metropolitan councils of Gwangju and Jeonnam issued a joint statement, saying, "With a deep sense of responsibility in the names of history and the late Presidents Kim Daejung and Roh Moo-hyun, we support candidate Lee Jaemyung."
On the afternoon of the 30th, current and former members of the Gwangju and Jeonnam basic and metropolitan, city and county councils attending the support declaration event for Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung are holding support placards. Provided by the Democratic Party Gwangju Branch
They stated, "The December 3 martial law under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is an act that destroys the democracy built upon the blood of May 18, evoking traumatic memories and fear. For the dignity of democracy and in the spirit of May 18, we support Lee Jaemyung, hoping for an end to the December 3 coup d'etat."
They also strongly criticized candidate Lee Junseok's remarks disparaging women. They said, "This is not a mere slip of the tongue but a regression of our times that insults the dignity of women and reduces politics to a tool of hatred and ridicule. How can one speak of May 18 while trampling on women's rights, or speak of democracy while riding on the legacy of dictatorship?"
The council members defined this declaration of support as "not a political choice, but a sincere approach to May 18, a call for its inclusion in the Constitution, and the fulfillment of the sovereign people's mandate regarding the December 3 coup d'etat." They added, "Let us end the coup with our votes and build a revitalized Korea together with Lee Jaemyung."
On the same day, the K-Cultural Capital Construction Committee, consisting of over 100 organizations, also declared its support at the Democratic Party's Gwangju branch election campaign office, stating, "We strongly support Lee Jaemyung, the cultural president, as the next president."
Attendees at the event included Seo Jeongyeol, chairman of the Namdo Cultural Research Institute; Kang Dongwan, former president of Chosun University; Park Kibok, director of the film "March for the Beloved"; Yang Dongcheon, chairman of the Lee Sunshin Cultural Foundation; and Park Younghyun, CEO of the Barun Meokgeori Association.
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