Civic Group Files Prosecution Complaint Against Leader Lee Hae-chan and Others for Pressuring Proportional Candidates to Resign from Party

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Yoon Ho-jung, secretary-general, have been reported to the prosecution on charges of coercing party proportional representation candidates to leave the party.

The "Action Alliance for Establishing the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon)" filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 25th against Lee and Yoon for violating the Political Parties Act, pointing out that "the Democratic Party of Korea sent text messages and emails to 20 proportional representation candidates urging them to 'submit a letter of withdrawal and submit an application to join the Deobureo Citizen Party.'

Furthermore, they stated, "The texts and emails received by the candidates included instructions on the necessary documents to transfer party membership to the Deobureo Citizen Party, a proportional coalition party of the Democratic Party, which included a withdrawal form from the Democratic Party," arguing that "this violates Article 42 of the Political Parties Act, which prohibits anyone from being forced to join or leave a party against their will."

Beopse-ryeon added, "The ruling party, the Democratic Party, should show a responsible attitude by issuing a public apology regarding this issue," and "if there is no apology, we will file a constitutional complaint within this week."

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