In This Presidential Election, Flood of 'Lawsuits and Complaints' Against Opponents

The target includes camp and affiliated party members as well as the media and others

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (right), and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] As the March 9 presidential election approaches, frequent lawsuits and complaints are being exchanged between the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party. The targets include not only campaign camps and affiliated party members but also the media.

Lee Yang-su, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters, announced on the 30th that he would file a complaint against Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom for malicious and repeated dissemination of false information. After the Lunar New Year holiday, they plan to file a criminal complaint under the Public Official Election Act for spreading false information.

Lee emphasized, "Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, clearly states that he has no friendship or relationship with Kim Man-bae," and added, "We hope legal responsibility will be taken for the false information." On the same day, Kim lawmaker mentioned a recorded conversation between Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, and accountant Jung Young-hak on his Facebook, saying, "Yoon Seok-yeol is in Kim Man-bae's grasp."

In addition, on the 28th, the People Power Party filed a complaint with the National Election Commission against YTN anchor Byun Sang-wook for allegedly violating Article 254, Paragraph 2 of the Public Official Election Act (violation of election campaign period) by making remarks that seemed to appeal for support for Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. On the 25th, they submitted a complaint to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deuk-gu for false information publication and candidate defamation under the Public Official Election Act, as well as defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act. Furthermore, on the 24th, they filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye, accusing her of exerting undue pressure on Kookmin University regarding the verification of Yoon's spouse Kim Geon-hee's thesis.

The Democratic Party is showing a similar pattern. On the 28th, the Democratic Party filed a complaint with the prosecution against People Power Party lawmaker Park Soo-young for false information publication. The Democratic Party stated, "The accused, as the head of the Planning and Strategy Headquarters of Yoon's Busan Metropolitan City campaign for the 20th presidential election, continuously produced and distributed false information posts criticizing candidate Lee within a short period, and published false information without any explanatory materials as the 20th presidential election approached, which indicates motive and intent to defeat the candidate." On the 26th, Park issued a press release raising suspicions of preferential hospitalization during the military service of Lee's son, Lee Dong-ho.

On the 21st, the Democratic Party also filed complaints with the prosecution against People Power Party floor leader Kim Ki-hyun and policy chief Won Hee-ryong for false information publication and other charges. In Kim's case, he allegedly made statements on a radio broadcast that misled listeners into thinking candidate Lee was avoiding a special investigation into Daejang-dong, thus publishing false information. Won is accused of false information publication and candidate defamation by mentioning false claims such as candidate Lee's brother-in-law's involvement in prostitution and candidate Lee's use of abusive language.

The mass lawsuits and complaints from both sides to cover up issues are instead causing a decline in trust and increasing fatigue. A political insider said, "This will be the presidential election with the most lawsuits and complaints in history," adding, "Excluding those reported by the media, there are so many filed by various civic groups that no one feels sincerity in these 'take it or leave it' lawsuits and complaints, leading to fatigue."

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