Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly on June 1. [Photo=Yonhap News]
The People Power Party announced plans to introduce the 'Park Chan-dae Fraud Prevention Laws,' which would require candidates to clarify their relationships with independence activists during registration, and the 'Jung Won-oh Prevention Law,' mandating at least three debates for candidates running for provincial governor.
At a press conference on June 1, Song Eon-seok stated, "We will work to judge Democratic Party candidates who evade debates and create confusion in elections with false backgrounds, aiming to establish a fair election culture." He confirmed that these proposals would be pursued as party policy.
The laws related to the Park Chan-dae Fraud Prevention Laws include amendments to the Public Official Election Act, the Public Officials Ethics Act, and the Act on the Honoring of Independence Activists. Specifically, candidates registering as descendants of independence activists would be required to disclose their exact relationship. The proposals also aim to prohibit public officials from falsifying familial ties and to punish acts that tarnish the names and reputations of independence fighters.
The Jung Won-oh Prevention Law focuses on amending the Public Official Election Act to require at least three debates among candidates for provincial governor. The People Power Party has expressed strong dissatisfaction, alleging that Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, has been avoiding candidate debates during the local election process.
During the press conference, Song criticized Jung, saying, "He is a cowardly and incompetent candidate who has failed to adequately explain allegations of coercing female employees at entertainment venues, a trip to Cancun, and the 'Baby Good' incident, while avoiding debates and only participating in a late-night surprise debate the night before early voting."
The press conference also addressed the recent release on bail of accountant Jeong Yeong-hak and lawyer Jeong Min-yong, who were sentenced to prison in the first trial for their involvement in the 'Daejang-dong development preferential treatment' case. Song emphasized, "Criminals are being released freely, and due to their decision to forgo appeal, 780 billion won in criminal proceeds will end up in their pockets."
He also mentioned that Park Sang-yong, the investigator involved in the case related to President Lee Jae-myung's alleged North Korean remittance, has been indefinitely suspended from duty, stating, "This is the current state of South Korea under the Lee Jae-myung administration, where those who commit crimes thrive while those who uncover them are punished."
Jung Jeong-sik, the party's policy committee chairman, who attended the press conference, remarked, "The public is struggling with high exchange rates, inflation, high interest rates, job shortages, and economic recession, while the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party are solely focused on resolving the 'Lee Jae-myung judicial risk.'" He assessed the competitive landscape for the June 3 local elections, stating, "The outcome will depend on who mobilizes more voters on election day." He added, "We deeply reflect on our shortcomings in the People Power Party. If you unite your strength to check us, we will humbly and desperately renew ourselves to prevent the Lee Jae-myung administration's reckless governance and work for the people's livelihoods."
At a press conference on June 1, Song Eon-seok stated, "We will work to judge Democratic Party candidates who evade debates and create confusion in elections with false backgrounds, aiming to establish a fair election culture." He confirmed that these proposals would be pursued as party policy.
The laws related to the Park Chan-dae Fraud Prevention Laws include amendments to the Public Official Election Act, the Public Officials Ethics Act, and the Act on the Honoring of Independence Activists. Specifically, candidates registering as descendants of independence activists would be required to disclose their exact relationship. The proposals also aim to prohibit public officials from falsifying familial ties and to punish acts that tarnish the names and reputations of independence fighters.
The Jung Won-oh Prevention Law focuses on amending the Public Official Election Act to require at least three debates among candidates for provincial governor. The People Power Party has expressed strong dissatisfaction, alleging that Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor, has been avoiding candidate debates during the local election process.
During the press conference, Song criticized Jung, saying, "He is a cowardly and incompetent candidate who has failed to adequately explain allegations of coercing female employees at entertainment venues, a trip to Cancun, and the 'Baby Good' incident, while avoiding debates and only participating in a late-night surprise debate the night before early voting."
The press conference also addressed the recent release on bail of accountant Jeong Yeong-hak and lawyer Jeong Min-yong, who were sentenced to prison in the first trial for their involvement in the 'Daejang-dong development preferential treatment' case. Song emphasized, "Criminals are being released freely, and due to their decision to forgo appeal, 780 billion won in criminal proceeds will end up in their pockets."
He also mentioned that Park Sang-yong, the investigator involved in the case related to President Lee Jae-myung's alleged North Korean remittance, has been indefinitely suspended from duty, stating, "This is the current state of South Korea under the Lee Jae-myung administration, where those who commit crimes thrive while those who uncover them are punished."
Jung Jeong-sik, the party's policy committee chairman, who attended the press conference, remarked, "The public is struggling with high exchange rates, inflation, high interest rates, job shortages, and economic recession, while the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party are solely focused on resolving the 'Lee Jae-myung judicial risk.'" He assessed the competitive landscape for the June 3 local elections, stating, "The outcome will depend on who mobilizes more voters on election day." He added, "We deeply reflect on our shortcomings in the People Power Party. If you unite your strength to check us, we will humbly and desperately renew ourselves to prevent the Lee Jae-myung administration's reckless governance and work for the people's livelihoods."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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