Park Hyung-jun "President Moon trying to win votes using disaster relief funds"

Park Hyung-jun, the Future United Party's election committee chairman, holds an emergency press conference at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 14th, President Moon Jae-in's statement at the Cabinet meeting to "accept applications for disaster relief funds without waiting for the National Assembly's review" was criticized by Park Hyung-joon, co-chairman of the United Future Party's joint election committee, as "an act of trying to buy votes using disaster relief funds."

Park stated in a press release that day, "Since democratization, this is the first time such an unfair government-led election has occurred."

He said, "How can it not be considered presidential election interference when the government, instead of quietly and swiftly handling the matter, sends a signal to the people to line up for disaster relief funds just one day before the general election?" He raised his voice, saying, "Floor leader Lee In-young publicly made a vote-buying remark as if disaster relief funds were a royal gift, promising to distribute funds if candidate Go Min-jung was elected, and now the president is also asking for votes by offering disaster relief funds."

The United Future Party has already pointed out suspicions of presidential election interference several times. Park said, "We have repeatedly pointed out that this administration has continuously engaged in cunning government-led elections," adding, "President Moon has not only once or twice acted at the center of this election to influence it. There are even allegations that he listened to requests from candidates regarding the Jeju 4.3 incident and made pledges on-site."

He said, "Amid the COVID-19 disaster, the president has continuously created events and conducted cunning election campaigns," adding, "Visits to battleground areas such as Gumi and Gangneung, events with overseas figures to praise COVID-19 responses?these have almost daily made the president the main actor in election-conscious events."

Park said, "Since democratization, I have never seen a president so blatantly influence elections and provoke controversies over unfair government-led elections," criticizing, "North Korea fires missiles as if it were routine, yet this administration cannot say a word about it, while holding daily COVID-19 promotional events and ultimately using disaster relief funds for elections. I cannot understand whether this administration truly understands democracy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.