"Related Figures' Serial Deaths" vs "Conspiracy Theories, Novel-Writing Remarks"... Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash for Third Day

Kim Ki-hyun "A movie-like reality where people connected to candidate Lee die in succession"
Song Young-gil "Low-level negative campaign exploiting death"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party engaged in a three-day dispute over the death of whistleblower Lee Byung-chul, who was suspected of having his attorney fees paid on his behalf.

On the 14th, Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the morning election campaign committee headquarters meeting, "Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol and the People Power Party are stooping to low-level negative tactics by exploiting an individual's unfortunate death," adding, "Floor leader Kim Ki-hyun's remark calling it 'indirect murder' is shocking. I cannot understand how a former judge can make such fictional statements," sharply criticizing him.

Song Young-gil, the Standing Election Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, is seated with a serious expression after finishing his remarks at the headquarters leaders' meeting of the election committee held on the 14th at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Regarding Lee's death, Leader Song said, "I deeply regret that someone unrelated to Candidate Lee, feeling the increased attention from the opposition, media, and prosecution, may have been burdened by the false stories they imagined, which led to this incident."

Cho Oh-seop, spokesperson for the Democratic Party's election campaign committee, also stated at the party headquarters that day, "The first autopsy results for Lee have been released. The cause of death was revealed to be aortic rupture," emphasizing to the People Power Party, the People Party, and the Justice Party, "It is now time to apologize and take responsibility."

He pointed out, "No matter how political work is about building achievements, it is unacceptable to mislead public opinion by using extreme expressions such as 'indirect murder,' 'death train,' and 'murder and extermination,'" adding, "Not only the People Power Party but also other opposition parties were completely blinded by political offensives and lost all reason." He urged, "All parties should apologize and take responsibility like proper political parties," warning, "If they respond with diversion tactics or shameless defiance without sincere apologies, we will definitely hold them legally accountable." Especially toward the People Power Party, he said, "They were recently embarrassed by baseless claims," and criticized, "I hope this is their last misstep and the end of their disgrace."

Regarding Professor Lee Soo-jung of Kyonggi University’s Department of Criminal Psychology, who served as co-chair of the People Power Party’s election campaign committee and mentioned on CBS Radio's 'Hanpan Seungbu' program that "the autopsy results came out suspiciously quickly" and "the CCTV footage is suspicious," the Democratic Party’s campaign committee criticized this as "fueling conspiracy theories once again."

In the afternoon, Hwang Bang-yeol, spokesperson for the campaign committee, held a briefing and strongly warned, "We strongly caution against trying to obscure the truth with baseless conspiracy theories and speculative rumors any longer."

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

However, the People Power Party did not lower their voices regarding Lee’s death that day either.

Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the morning floor countermeasure meeting, "Within just one month, three people?Yoo Han-gi, Kim Moon-gi, and Lee Byung-chul?have passed away. Two of them were key figures in the Daejang-dong development project, and there are media reports that Lee had even promised additional revelations about Candidate Lee," adding, "The public feels a great deal of suspicion and fear about this movie-like reality where people connected directly or indirectly to the ruling party’s presidential candidate are dying in succession."

He continued, "The Democratic Party must take responsibility and respond to the fearful citizens who wonder how many more people must die for Candidate Lee, who has four prior convictions, to become president."

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