Lee Jun-seok "Thank you if Lee Jae-myung runs, there's a smell"... Opposition presidential candidates also join in

Yoon Seok-yeol and Hong Joon-pyo: "Must Bear Criminal Responsibility" "Legal Accomplices"

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is conducting an on-site investigation into the Daejang-dong development allegations on the 29th in Daejang-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Amid the arrest of Yoo Dong-gyu, former head of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation and a key figure in the 'Daejang-dong development project scandal,' Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, directly criticized Lee Jae-myung, the ruling party's presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, saying, "Isn't this a situation where 'Inattang' (Lee Jae-myung, thank you if you come out) arises?" Opposition presidential candidates also joined the criticism, stating that Lee should bear legal responsibility beyond managerial accountability.

On the 4th, Lee appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Young-il's Current Affairs Headquarters' and, when asked whether the People Power Party would be at an advantage if Lee Jae-myung advanced to the main election, he said, "(Regarding the Daejang-dong scandal) Lee Jae-myung has not provided a reasonable explanation."

He added, "If financial gains were transferred to Lee Jae-myung, wouldn't he be the beneficiary of a massive real estate corruption drama? The moment that comes out, it directly leads to the candidate's withdrawal."

Regarding the consolidation of Democratic Party supporters, he said, "The uneasy gaze of the moderate public watching that, and the war-like atmosphere of observing it, will probably make it some kind of election like a battle." This was a reference to his June 11 acceptance speech for the party leadership, where he parodied the lyrics of singer Lim Jae-beom's 'For You.'

Lee also said, "As Kim Eo-jun put it, it smells fishy," and urged, "Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon and Representative Park Yong-jin should clarify their stance on supporting special investigations and national audits. I don't have much expectation from former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae."

On the same day, he raised the level of his offensive by writing on Facebook harsh words directed at Lee Jae-myung, saying, "Self-impose Bonggo dismissal and confinement under wire fences." This was a retort to Lee Jae-myung's statement on the 29th of last month, where Lee said, "I will dismiss Lee Jun-seok with Bonggo dismissal and confine Kim Ki-hyun, the floor leader of the People Power Party, under wire fences."

'Bonggo dismissal' refers to the dismissal of corrupt officials and sealing of their offices during the Joseon Dynasty, while 'confinement under wire fences' is a punishment where exiled criminals are enclosed within thorny fences to prevent escape.

After announcing his presidential candidacy, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential primary candidate, visited Busanjin-gu Seomyeon Underground Shopping Center in Busan for the second time on the 4th, raising his hand to greet supporters.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, opposition presidential candidates also raised their voices in criticism of Lee Jae-myung on the same day. Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl said after the appointment ceremony of the Busan campaign committee held at the People Power Party's Busan branch in the afternoon, regarding the arrest of Yoo Dong-gyu, "Lee Jae-myung himself must bear criminal responsibility," adding, "This is not a matter of managerial responsibility. It is very clear."

People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo also wrote on Facebook, "The arrest of former head Yoo means that Lee Jae-myung is a 'legal accomplice,'" and said, "Lee Jae-myung must bear both managerial and legal responsibility."

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min wrote on Facebook, "Do the original residents of Daejang-dong look like 'pigs' in Lee Jae-myung's eyes?" He added, "The original residents of Daejang-dong, who had their land expropriated during the development process, are said to be devastated and furious after seeing the Hwacheon Daeyu corruption, feeling that their land was taken at a low price unjustly."

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