"Declaration to Stop Negatives" in Vain... Lee and Yoon's Muddy Fight Escalates into a Fierce Brawl

Bizarre Rituals, Osal, Parasites... Embarrassing Slurs Heat Up in a Neck-and-Neck Race Within Margin of Error

On the 16th, during the official campaign period for the 20th presidential election, banners of Lee Jae-myung (in numerical order), the Democratic Party presidential candidate, Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, and Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party presidential candidate, were hung near Yongsan Station in Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The ultra-close approval ratings of the presidential candidates from the two major parties have intensified a barrage of negative attacks. Amid harsh words like bizarre shamanistic rituals, accidental killings, and parasites, a "frame war" labeling the opposing candidate has now begun. This reflects the analysis that policy debates cannot widen the gap in approval ratings, and the negative strategy is expected to become a significant variable in shifting voter sentiment.

On the 17th, the Democratic Party and the People Power Party launched sharp remarks at each other as their campaign activities began, pushing each other hard. The People Power Party stated at the morning floor leadership meeting, "Details of Candidate Lee's business promotion expenses reveal that he had 9 lunches and 9 dinners during his time as mayor of Seongnam, and there is evidence of extensive use of departmental corporate cards," adding, "The public is now curious about where the 10 servings of sushi went and who the parasite mentioned by Grade 5 public official Mr. Bae is."

The verbal exchanges between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party have intensified since the official election campaign started. The Democratic Party has been raising suspicions daily about Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol and the Shincheonji Church. The core allegation is that Yoon, while serving as Prosecutor General, refused to conduct a search of Shincheonji amid the COVID-19 outbreak. They also raised suspicions that the refusal to issue a search warrant for Shincheonji was influenced by advice from the shaman Geonjin Beopsa.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom is focusing on proving the relationship between Candidate Yoon and Geonjin Beopsa. Kim has held daily press conferences alleging a close relationship between Mr. Lee, who conducted a bizarre shamanistic ritual at the 2018 Chungju Water and Land Festival, and Candidate Yoon and his spouse.

Candidate Lee Jae-myung has also joined in. During a street campaign in Daegu's Dongseong-ro the previous day, he said, "If the Shincheonji had been swiftly searched, their list obtained, and quarantine measures properly enforced when they were spreading COVID-19 and not cooperating with quarantine, wouldn't it have been possible to reduce even a single victim?" He raised responsibility for Candidate Yoon, stating, "Using the limited quarantine authority as governor, I raided the Shincheonji headquarters, secured the list, shut down all facilities, and even went directly to the cult leader Lee Man-hee's lavish residence to enforce inspections."

The People Power Party responded with accusations of false information disclosure and filed complaints. After filing complaints against Candidate Lee, Party Leader Song Young-gil, and former Minister Chu Mi-ae, they also announced plans to file a complaint against Lawmaker Kim, who claimed that Candidate Yoon and his spouse participated in a shamanistic ritual involving cowhide stripping.

At the same time, the People Power Party focused on Candidate Lee's spouse, Kim Hye-kyung. They claimed to have additionally confirmed circumstances where a whistleblower alleging excessive protocol by Kim used a corporate card from Gyeonggi Provincial Government to pay at a jokbal (pig's trotters) restaurant in front of Candidate Lee's house, later processed as business promotion expenses.

They also disclosed an analysis of 2,321 business promotion expense details from Candidate Lee's time as mayor of Seongnam. It was pointed out that he had up to 9 lunches a day or combined 18 meals for lunch and dinner. Party Leader Lee Jun-seok sarcastically commented on his Facebook, "Paying for lunch and dinner 9 times a day is an incredible act of self-multiplication."

Previously, there was also a public morality dispute over Candidate Yoon's "shoe-stomping photo" controversy and Candidate Lee's "indoor smoking." The People Power Party apologized while explaining the circumstances, and the Democratic Party claimed there was no illegality and tried to calm the situation, but the tit-for-tat exchanges continue.

However, unlike their campaign headquarters, Candidates Lee and Yoon have chosen a strategy of framing each other rather than direct attacks. Candidate Lee, emphasizing the economy and unity daily, targeted Candidate Yoon by sarcastically saying, "The incompetence, ignorance, and irresponsibility of the top leader are sins that bring national disaster." He also criticized Yoon's political revenge and obsession with a prosecutorial republic through judicial policy.

Candidate Yoon continues his offensive on the Daejang-dong development scandal. He aims to label Candidate Lee as an immoral and untrustworthy candidate. He repeatedly uses terms like "corruption," "incompetence," and "double standards" to describe the Democratic Party administration. Targeting Candidate Lee to break the Democratic Party's frame of "competent Lee Jae-myung," he questioned, "Is this the master of administration?"

However, within each party, voices calling for self-restraint on the negative strategy continue, saying, "It may only increase unfavorable impressions." Woo Sang-ho, the Democratic Party's general election committee chairman, said, "There have been controversies due to excessive remarks on broadcast panels and SNS activities, which is very painful," issuing a notice to refrain from provocative expressions attacking the opposing candidate and party. Following the first warning from General Election Committee Chairman Lee Nak-yeon, Woo has raised the possibility of "personnel measures" as a second disciplinary message.

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