PPP: "Conservative Group's Comment Manipulation? ... Smells Like a Democratic Party Operation"

Jang Donghyuk: "The Democratic Party Suddenly Raises the Comment Issue"
"Kim Moonsu and the Election Committee Are Not Involved... Negative Campaigning"

The People Power Party claimed on June 1 that the recent controversy over comment manipulation by a conservative group is "a negative campaign by the Democratic Party intended to cover up negative issues related to Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party candidate's son, or author Yoo Simin."

Jang Donghyuk, Head of the Situation Room of the People Power Party's Election Committee, held an emergency press conference on the 1st at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, to refute allegations including the Democratic Party's 'comment manipulation' suspicion. Photo by Yonhap News

Jang Donghyuk, Head of the General Situation Room of the People Power Party's Central Election Committee, held a press conference at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the same day and said, "The Democratic Party has suddenly raised the groundless issue of comment manipulation," making this statement.

Previously, Newstapa reported that a history education group supporting former presidents Syngman Rhee and Park Chunghee, called 'LeeParkSchool,' had formed and operated an organization named 'Jasongun' (an abbreviation for 'Jayu Songeuriga Gundae,' meaning 'Free Finger Army to Save the Nation through Comments').

According to the report, Jasongun is suspected of posting comments to promote candidate Kim Moonsu and to slander candidates Lee Jaemyung and Lee Junseok. In particular, suspicions of collusion with the People Power Party were raised after it became known that People Power Party lawmaker Cho Junghoon arranged, and floor leader Kwon Seongdong attended, a National Assembly press conference held by the head of LeeParkSchool last month.

In response, candidate Lee Jaemyung criticized, "This is a serious crime and an act of rebellion aimed at overturning the election results," and insisted, "We must track down every last root and hold those responsible strictly accountable."

Jang dismissed the allegations of comment manipulation, stating, "Neither presidential candidate Kim Moonsu nor anyone from our election committee is connected to this, and it is even less related to the People Power Party."

Jang pointed out, "(Lawmakers Cho Junghoon and Kwon Seongdong) participated in the event without even accurately understanding what the group was doing," and added, "The Democratic Party is claiming, without any objective evidence or connection, as if the People Power Party or candidate Kim Moonsu's campaign was manipulating comments."

He went on to say, "There is a foul smell of the Democratic Party's usual covert operations in this comment manipulation," and argued, "YouTube channels are breaking the story, candidate Lee Jaemyung is immediately picking it up and spreading it at every campaign stop, and certain YouTube channels or media outlets are amplifying it."

Jang asserted, "Stop trying to change the outcome of the presidential election through these dark schemes," and claimed, "In the last presidential election, the 'Kim Manbae-Shin Hakrim' election operation had a significant impact on narrowing the gap in poll results, which had been over 10% before the ban on publishing opinion polls, to 0.7% in the actual vote."

He continued, "Woo Sangho, the Democratic Party's joint election committee chair, said, 'The side that resorts to negative campaigning at the end of an election always loses,'" and emphasized, "Who is engaging in negative campaigning now? Isn't it the Democratic Party? We will take strict legal action without fail."