In the Pyeongtaek by-election for the National Assembly, Jo Kuk, leader of the Jo Kuk Innovation Party, and Kim Yong-nam, the Democratic Party candidate, are engaged in an escalating conflict. The rivalry has intensified, drawing in both candidates and their parties, with only two days left until early voting. It appears that any chance of unification has effectively collapsed.
Lee Hae-min, Secretary-General of the Innovation Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "In Pyeongtaek, the largest battleground in the metropolitan area, ongoing media scrutiny and questioning of the candidates' qualifications are raising concerns about a growing distrust of the entire Democratic camp. This is because voters see Kim as the embodiment of the 'bad prosecutor' they have called for to step down in the streets."
Lee also referenced comments made the previous day by Jo Seung-rae, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party. He said, "Jo claimed that the Innovation Party is colluding with a specific media outlet to attack the Democratic candidate, which is an unfortunate and regrettable behavior that is hard to believe coming from the leadership of the ruling party."
Additionally, Park Byeong-eon, senior spokesperson for the Innovation Party, intensified the attack by mentioning allegations regarding Kim's alleged operation of a lending business under a different name. Park stated, "The current issue is the operation of illegal lending under a different name, and Kim's explanations are inadequate."
In response, Kim's camp accused the Innovation Party of engaging in what they termed 'Yongmorning' tactics, asserting, "The Innovation Party is mobilizing all its members to inflate suspicions against Kim and spread false information."
They added, "Despite their efforts, it seems they have lost their reason and are extremely anxious about their chances of winning. We urge Jo to reflect on the crimes for which he has been sentenced to prison."
Furthermore, they emphasized, "We do not believe we should refrain from criticizing Jo simply because we lack points of contention. We hope they will consider how terms like admissions corruption, sexual harassment, and infidelity relate to their party. They should focus on their own issues."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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