The People Power Party stated on the 17th that it plans to initiate a defamation lawsuit in response to a complaint filed by members of the Democratic Party of Korea from the National Assembly’s Gender Equality and Family Committee, accusing its representatives of breaching the Public Official Election Act.
Representative Joo Jin-woo, who leads the “Special Committee to Prevent the Dismissal of Lee Jae Myung’s Indictment” within the People Power Party’s Central Election Strategy Committee, mentioned on his Facebook page that day, “Today, we are initiating a counter-defamation lawsuit against Democratic Party representatives Seo Young-kyo, Lee Ju-hee, and Kim Nam-hee.” Representative Joo Jin-woo further noted, “These Democratic Party representatives are trying to hinder the verification process of candidate Jeong and suppress criticism through criminal complaints,” and questioned, “Is candidate Jeong talking about and honoring the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising in a bar?”
Previously, on the 15th, the People Power Party convened a meeting of the National Assembly’s Committee on Gender Equality and Family, conducting a current affairs investigation into claims related to Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate Chong Won-o, including his “record of assaulting a police officer and a civilian 31 years ago” and the “controversy involving an overnight stay at a bar.” In reaction, members of the Democratic Party within the Gender Equality and Family Committee held a press conference, stating, “We will pursue legal action against all members of the People Power Party who made prostitution allegations against candidate Jeong,” and further noted, “We have submitted a complaint regarding false statements made by People Power Party Committee members Lee In-sun, Jo Eun-hee, Seo Myeong-ok, Lee Dal-hee, and Han Ji-a.”
Furthermore, the People Power Party maintained its attack on candidate Jeong that day. Song Eon-seog, the floor leader and co-chair of the party’s Central Election Strategy Committee, shared on his Facebook, “Candidate Jeong gave a lecture to (People Power Party Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon), stating, ‘You should understand the dignity of conservatism,’” and remarked, “This is characteristic of someone who previously advised a struggling merchant, saying, ‘You should think about seeking advice.’”
Floor leader Song stated, “Is candidate Jeong, who is accused of attacking two police officers and two civilians while intoxicated and later praised the incident as part of the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, the embodiment of progressivism?” He further remarked, “I hope to witness the dignity of progressivism and the ruling party within Democratic Party candidates.”
Member Choi Bo-yun, who leads the publicity department of the party’s Central Election Strategy Committee, stated, “Did President Lee Jae Myung have knowledge of candidate Jeong’s history of assault and the controversy surrounding his explanation, yet still consider it acceptable to ignore?” He further mentioned, “If he was aware and still proceeded, that constitutes complicity; if not, it is reckless appointment.” He added, “The people of Seoul will harshly evaluate both candidate Jeong, accused of attempting to conceal his assault record, and President Lee, who chose and supported him without conducting proper checks, through this election.”
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