Supporters of Lee Nak-yeon Claim "Damage to Democracy"... Injunction Filed to Suspend Effect of Democratic Party Primary Results

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Supporters of former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon have filed a provisional injunction to suspend the validity of the Democratic Party primary results, which confirmed the presidential candidate without a runoff vote.

The lead plaintiff, Kim Jin-seok (45), held a press conference in front of the Seoul Southern District Court on the morning of the 14th and then submitted the injunction application to the court.

The plaintiff group, consisting of about 46,000 members, was made up of party members and general citizens who had voting rights in this Democratic Party primary. Separately, Kim explained that about 50,000 citizens had expressed their support opinions.

As a party member with voting rights, Kim criticized at the press conference, "The Democratic Party primary undermined democracy," adding, "Instead of encouraging a runoff vote as intended by the special party regulations, the conclusion was reached in a way that hinders the 'One Team' spirit and causes division."

He continued, "Representative Song Young-gil repeatedly made the so-called 'rounding off' argument, blatantly demanding that votes for withdrawn candidates be recognized as invalid," and explained, "It is clearly unconstitutional for the party that made an unreasonable rounding interpretation to act as the judge of that interpretation again, so we leave the judgment to a civilian court."

Attorney Jeong Hwan-hee, representing the plaintiffs, also pointed out issues such as ▲ undermining the purpose of the runoff vote ▲ violation of democratic procedures ▲ breach of the obligation of neutrality in election management, stating, "Party members and citizens who participated in the primary vote are raising objections because their right to a runoff vote was infringed."

However, Lee Nak-yeon himself declared acceptance of the primary results the day before. In light of this situation, there is analysis that the likelihood of the injunction application filed today being accepted has decreased.

The Democratic Party's highest decision-making body, the Party Affairs Committee, also rejected Lee’s objections and officially confirmed Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung as the presidential candidate.

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